A 60-year-old Asturian was seen on the bench this Thursday amid a case of persistent noise disturbance in Belmonte de Miranda. The aim was to torment the neighbor by playing loud music over many years, disrupting rest and daily life. The neighbor reported that music timers were set to turn on even when the offender was away from home, worsening anxiety and previously existing health issues for the woman involved.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office stated that the defendant, born in 1962, repeatedly amplified music and affected the walls to disturb the neighbor from at least May 2014 to the present. According to the Ministry of Public Security, the man manipulated the rhythm of the devices so music activated at various times, sometimes at night, without his presence at home. The motives behind this behavior were not disclosed.
As a result of years of acoustic harassment, the woman experienced an escalation of her clinical conditions and developed an anxiety disorder requiring ongoing medical care and medication.
The prosecution argues that the facts constitute a continuing offense of coercion in addition to bodily harm. It requests a prison sentence that reflects the coercion charge of three years and restricts the accused from voting during the sentence, as well as a ban on approaching the victim within 400 meters and communicating with her for four years.
Additionally, the request calls for a two-year prison term for the injury offense, with a similar disqualification from passive voting rights and a prohibition on approaching within 400 meters and contacting the victim for three years.
In civil liability matters, the Public Prosecutor seeks compensation from the defendant amounting to 20,000 euros for damages and moral harm, plus interest related to the legal damages.
Observers note that the Public Ministry has asked for a significantly higher penalty in this case than in other noise-related incidents. A recent Supreme Court ruling involved an innkeeper who received two years and nine months in prison for years of amplified music that disrupted neighbors, causing health issues due to constant night noise.
File
- Acoustic torture. Since May 2014, a neighbor in Belmonte de Miranda repeatedly played loud music at various times of the day, including night hours, with the intent to disturb and disturb the neighbor, aggravating existing anxiety disorders.
- Prosecutor’s request. The public ministry seeks a three-year prison term for ongoing coercion, plus two years for injuries to the woman. It also demands a seven-year ban on approaching the victim.