I was facing six months in prison after “Karen’s” neighbor accused me of parking on her flowers as part of a feud – I wasn’t the first target

A tradesman faced six months in prison after a neighbor accused him of parking on her flowers – before the case was dismissed.

James Monk, 36, was accused by neighbor Karen Chazen of “revving” his work van and committing “hostile parking” during a bitter feud in Waterloo, Liverpool.

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Ms Chazen, 54, also claimed the plasterer taunted her with a Roy Orbison song and sabotaged her WiFi, while 30 separate complaints were made to police.

She told officers that James taunted her by whistling Orbison’s 1960 hit “Only the Lonely” within earshot of her and jammed her doorbell camera’s Wi-Fi signal, resulting in his face and his van be pixelated.

Another complaint alleged that James interfered with the locking mechanism of her Fiat 500 car to allow a thief to open the driver’s door and steal a bottle of wine.

James faced up to six months in prison after being charged with harassment and appearing at Sefton Magistrates Court.

However, the case was dismissed after it emerged that Ms Chazen had made numerous complaints about a number of other people, including her former neighbors and workers who worked outside her former home.

The court heard she lodged a complaint with the owner of her apartment block about water damage to her ceiling and lamps, although no leaks were found. She also filed 14 separate complaints about the police investigation into her fight with James.

Ms. Chazen gave police three witness statements about her neighbor, one of which ran to 18 pages.

Due to the ongoing allegations against him, James eventually moved out of his house.

The court heard he had been living in a block of flats for ten years without any problems, but the problems began the day Ms Chazen moved into the flat below him in June 2022.

She told the hearing: “I had an infection which required root canal surgery and there was a lot of noise upstairs for four hours.”

“No one likes it when someone knocks on a door and asks you to be quiet and I just said ‘I’m terribly sorry, I’m not feeling well’ but Mr Monk replied ‘I have a shitty child’ .”

Ms. Chazen, who teared up on the witness stand, said she had to start cleaning up neighbors’ trash cans after they were left outside her apartment.

She complained to the property management company, but claimed she saw James pushing a bin towards her apartment before throwing it at her – narrowly missing her head.

Ms Chazen said she called the police and reported her neighbors for assault before claiming she was verbally abused.

She also told the court that James would park his van to block her window and would turn it up “10 or 20 times” every day when he came and left work.

On another occasion, she claimed he “parked and damaged my lavender flowers.”

Ms Chazen claimed she was intimidated by her neighbor and was afraid to leave her own home.

“At times my car was blocked so I couldn’t get out of the driveway and I had to wait for him to go out to avoid abuse,” she said.

“I was afraid to go. I think he tampered with the CCTV.”

Police spoke to Monk and suggested the feuding couple attend mediation sessions.

“His behavior got worse, became more frequent and worse,” Ms. Chazen said.

“There was insults, there were knocks on the windows and the door several times a day to intimidate me.”

Mr Ellis said Miss Chazen “wanted Mr Monk out of his house” and told her: “There was a pattern.

“Mr Monk has been there for ten years without any problems.

“When you move in, he apparently turns into a Mr. Hyde figure who makes your life hell. That’s strange.”

“They were desperate to get the police to confront him even though he had done nothing. The police received complaint after complaint, but the only person causing problems is you. There’s a line of people you’ve complained about. You’re a serial plaintiff, aren’t you?”

In response, Ms. Chazen replied, “I know my rights. I’m a serial victim.”

In dismissing the case, JP Charles Wood said: “We have to consider the credibility of the complainant and she has been inconsistent, she has been vague and at times a little confused.”

“We did not feel that the prosecution had provided all the necessary evidence.

“There have to be two or more behaviors to constitute harassment, but we have found no evidence to support that.”

Mr. Monk and Ms. Chazen both declined to comment after the case.

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