Barry and Faye Mahon were looking forward to a quiet and comfortable life when they moved into their home on Trenance Close, Cheshire, in 2004.
With three children to raise, they had envisioned a friendly neighborhood where their family could thrive.
However, what should have been an idyllic setting soon became a nightmare, thanks to their next-door neighbor, Susan Graham.
The Parking and Bin Dispute Begins
It all started with small inconveniences—blocked driveways and misplaced bins.
Barry recalled how Susan would deliberately park in front of their house, making it impossible for Faye to get onto their driveway after a trip to the shops.
The blue bin also became a tool of irritation, often placed strategically in front of their car.
Despite their frustrations, Barry and Faye initially tried to handle the situation diplomatically.
They approached Susan’s husband, Alan Graham, hoping he could intervene.
Alan assured them he would speak to his wife, but their troubles were far from over.
A Heated Exchange Escalates the Tension
The tension reached a boiling point when Faye noticed Susan staring at her from her doorway while she was bringing back her bin.
Frustrated, Faye remarked, “You know what, love, you should listen to your husband more than worrying about my bins.”
Susan, however, took offense, misinterpreting the comment as an insult to her marriage.
Her response was aggressive and laced with threats. “You’re just a troublemaking little s***,” she snapped.
“When someone like me stands up to you, you don’t like it. You want to back up what you say? I can back mine up. When I see you on your own, I will get you.”
The exchange, which happened in front of Faye’s young daughter, left her shaken.
This verbal attack led to Susan being slapped with a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO), a legal measure intended to curb her aggressive behavior.
Legal Action Brings Little Relief
Hoping the CBO would put an end to the hostility, Barry and Faye remained hopeful.
Unfortunately, Susan continued her behavior, and police intervention felt futile.
“When you called the police, they acted as if it was just a minor neighborhood dispute,” Barry lamented.
“We couldn’t even let the kids play outside.”
Repeated breaches of the CBO landed Susan in Chester Magistrates’ Court, where she faced restrictions on parking near their property and was barred from placing items—bins, garden ornaments, or anything else—on their land.
In October, she was fined £200 and ordered to adjust her CCTV cameras after they were found to be recording individuals not related to her family.
Another Court Appearance for Violating the Order
Despite the ruling, Susan failed to comply and was back in court after ignoring the order to move her cameras.
During the hearing, the prosecution pointed out her failure to act on the court’s directions.
“There was a breach of the Criminal Behaviour Order on October 7, 2024. The court directed her to remove the cameras,” said prosecutor Will Griffin.
Susan’s lawyer, Alex Dunn, stated that she had since complied, removing the cameras and installing a Ring doorbell instead, which was approved by the police.
The court imposed a £150 bond for 12 months and required her to pay £85 in legal costs.
Moving Away for Peace of Mind
After enduring years of stress, Barry and Faye ultimately made the difficult decision to leave their home.
“She made our lives miserable for years,” said Faye.
“I was genuinely scared—I’ve never been in a fight or anything like that. I thought she was going to hurt me.”
Cheshire Police acknowledged the prolonged distress Susan Graham caused the family.
While she has since complied with the latest court orders, for Barry and Faye, the damage had already been done.
What’s Next?
With the Mahons having moved away, the question remains: will Susan’s behavior change, or will her next neighbors face a similar ordeal? Only time will tell.