A couple were banned from entering their neighbor's house for 11 years after being accused of “chanting, staring and raising their fingers.” The charges were dropped because the woman was allegedly only performing Hindu prayers outside.

A couple who were banned from looking into their neighbor's house during an 11-year dispute have finally had harassment charges dropped.

Nigel and Sheila Jacklin were legally prohibited from entering the home of their neighbour Dr Stephane Duckett and his partner in the town of Bexhill-on-Sea in East Sussex.

Earlier this year, the couple were again accused of “chatting, staring and giving the finger” to their neighbor and his partner from a nearby beach.

Both were accused of harassment, but claimed the chanting and finger-pointing were part of Ms Jacklin's Hindu prayer routine.

Mr Jacklin, 62, was also charged with assaulting a neighbour's female friend during an argument outside his £600,000 home.

Both were charged with harassment, but claimed the chanting and finger-pointing were part of Ms Jacklin's Hindu prayer routine. (Sheila Jacklin pictured here with praying hands)

However, yesterday all charges against the couple were dropped when they appeared before a Justice of the Peace in Brighton, East Sussex.

The decision ended a long dispute that began when the couple first complained about building work at the home of clinical psychologist Dr Duckett.

The Jacklins appeared at Brighton Magistrates Court on Tuesday after pleading not guilty to harassing their neighbour.

Mr Jacklin also pleaded not guilty to the assault and both he and his wife claimed they were attacked.

Ms Jacklin, 61, said the chanting, staring and movement of her fingers were part of her Sanskrit mantras.

The prosecution requested an adjournment, which was denied by the court, meaning that the prosecution did not present any evidence.

The Jacklins were told they could leave.

Mr Jacklin, a statistician and market researcher, said: “We are relieved, excited and angry.”

The couple had complained about renovation work on the property by Dr. Stephane Duckett (left) and his partner Norinne Betjemann (right).

Shelia and Nigel Jacklin outside Brighton Magistrates Court on 10 September 2024. They are delighted that the charges have been dropped

“This should never have gone to court.

“This is the fourth time my wife has been investigated for praying on the beach.”

“We have been investigated 12 times and in no case have any action been taken against us.”

“This is not a series of police errors – this is police abuse of power.”

Mr Jacklin, a councillor, said the couple had spent “tens of thousands of pounds” in legal fees during repeated police investigations and court cases.

The dispute began in 2013 when Dr Duckett and his partner Norinne Betjemann bought a 120-year-old disused glass workshop opposite their house.

The London-based couple then set about converting it into a £400,000 weekend holiday home.

Mr and Mrs Jacklin made a number of complaints to the authorities about their neighbours, including noisy construction workers, verbal abuse and light pollution.

Nigel and Sheila Jacklin, who received a Community Protection warning that did not even allow them to look at their neighbours’ house

The picture shows the exclusion zone around the neighbour's house in Normans Bay, East Sussex. The Jacklins were forbidden to enter their neighbour's property.

However, the Jacklins were subsequently “investigated” by Rother District Council and received a “community protection warning letter”.

They were also banned from entering a “restricted area” around Dr Duckett and Mrs Betjemann’s property.

The Jacklins filed a harassment complaint against their neighbors in July 2023 when they claimed that Ms. Jacklin was surrounded by her neighbors who filmed her praying.

In September of that year, Mr Jacklin claimed he was attacked after a friend of the Ducketts approached them on the beach outside their home.

As the couple returned to the house, according to Mr. Jacklin, the woman called out to Mrs. Jacklin, “The whole village wishes you were dead.”

Mr Jacklin said he approached the woman and she “strangled” him.

He said: “The woman then claimed that I had slammed her against the fence, kicked her dog and repeatedly head-butted her.”

“It was all just a fabrication. When she was choking me, she came at me again and I reached out my hand to stop her. That was the only contact we had.”

Mr Jacklin claims he was attacked after a friend of the Ducketts approached them on the beach outside their home.

Mr Jacklin is calling on Sussex Police to take action against the parties who he believes have bullied them and made false allegations.

Mr Jacklin pointed out that the incident was recorded by one of his neighbour's many surveillance cameras.

He said footage of the three minutes of the attack was never found, despite requests from the Jacklins' lawyers.

Mr Jacklin is calling on Sussex Police to take action against the parties he says have harassed them and made false allegations.

The father of two children said: “This is a spectacular abuse of police time. We think it is probably an abuse of police power.”

“I ran in the parliamentary elections and one of the reasons is that the police investigated us and not our neighbors. We should stand up against abuse of power.”

“My wife's Hindu faith helped her get through this. We have been there for 30 years and plan to leave forever.”

Dr Duckett was asked for comment.

A spokesman for the prosecution service said: “We have requested an adjournment in this case to comply with our disclosure obligations following late submissions by the defence.”

The dispute began in 2013 when Dr Duckett and his partner Norinne Betjemann bought a 120-year-old disused glass workshop opposite their house. Pictured is a general view of their neighbour's house

“Unfortunately, this request was rejected by the court and we were left with no choice but to not submit any evidence.”

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “Sussex Police conducted a thorough, impartial investigation into multiple reports of harassment and one reported assault case against three people between July and September 2023.”

“The investigation was conducted impartially and included several statements from informants and witnesses as well as interviews with both suspects.”

“Evidence was presented to the prosecution, which admitted charges of harassment and assault before no evidence was presented after the judges rejected a prosecutor's request for an adjournment.”

“Sussex Police will continue to do everything in its power to protect our communities and bring justice to victims of crime.”