A WOMAN who broke a restraining order for the sixth time by playing loud music has been jailed for 26 weeks.

Amber Flowers was sent to prison after magistrates heard she had blasted two songs in another incident of harassment against her neighbour.

The 66-year-old, of Emlyn Street in Barrow, admitted that she breached a restraining order relating to her neighbour, who said the defendant had stopped her being able to ‘relax’ at home.

South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court was told the neighbour heard loud music playing at around 2pm on the day of the incident.

The restraining order handed to Flowers in November 2018 prohibited her from playing music loudly.

In a statement read in court, neighbour Linda Burns said: “I work as a domestic cleaner.

"When I get home from my work I want to relax.

“I do not feel I able to do so with Miss Flowers.

“I’m worried about a stricter lockdown which will mean I am stuck with Miss Flowers constantly.”

She added that she suffers with post-traumatic stress disorder, which she said was worsened by the behaviour of Flowers.

Karen Templeton, mitigating, said Flowers had been supported to find new housing and could move in four weeks.

She asked magistrates not to jail the defendant.

She said: “This is not someone who has been in and out of court all her life for offences of this kind. It’s something that’s related to this particular problem.

“Hopefully this matter can be resolved and everyone can move on.

“She has been in a bit of a merry-go-round.

"I would suggest this time there is something on offer that can be used to break the cycle.

“If Amber was able to move there wouldn’t be problems with a new neighbour.

Asked by magistrates why she plays music loudly, Flowers said: “Some people might think it’s loud and some people might find it enjoyable.”

Magistrates jailed her for the ‘serious’ breach and told her to pay a £128 victim surcharge and £85 in court costs.