Nightmare neighbour told to move or be jailed after 'crawling into home to steal cats'

Angela Montgomery, 50, insisted that the cats roaming through her neighbour's flat in York actually belong to her, with CCTV footage showing her trying to lure them outside

A nightmare neighbour has been told to pack her bags or face jail after being accused of luring another resident's cats into her home.

Angela Montgomery, 50, insisted the animals at the retirement complex Winston Court, York, were hers after she moved in to be near her mother before she died. York Crown Court was told the pets were microchipped to her neighbour.

She was issued a restraining order when the row escalated, which she has breached six times. She served a three month prison term for breaching a previous suspended sentence, and now has been told she will be sent back to jail unless she leaves following numerous complaints in the long-running dispute.

It was claimed she had crawled into the neighbour's house through a broken glass door panel to snatch a cat. The court was shown doorbell CCTV footage of her attempting to lure the animals outside.

Judge Sean Morris has given Montgomery one last chance to avoid prison, deferring sentencing until June to give her the opportunity to leave the area for good. He told her: "You have already served some time in prison for rattling cat treats. This [telling her to leave the complex] is the only way to cure this problem. So, look for somewhere else."

One neighbour said in court: "She became convinced that her neighbour’s cats were actually hers and it’s caused a really awful situation for him, she simply won’t leave it alone. She is always trying to entice the cats into her flat and despite warnings from the court she just wouldn’t stop and it caused him understandable anxiety.

"He was forced to put up two CCTV cameras either side of his door and didn’t know what she was going to do next. He has been physically assaulted by her while walking from his flat on two crutches, it was distressing for him and even the people who witnessed it."

Another neighbour said: "This is a housing association property and you have to be over 55 to qualify for a flat, which she is not. Most of the people here are elderly and simply want to live here quietly but that just has not been possible since she moved in, she’s shattered the peace. It’s very clear that she needs help and support. People here are hoping she pays attention to the judge and moves - but it would only shift the problem elsewhere unfortunately."

Rhianydd Clement, defending, told the court that her client believed she had ownership of the animals saying: "Ms Montgomery tells me that they are her cats."

Montgomery was convicted of using threatening words or behaviour towards towards two people living in her street in May.