• Search local news and sport:
  •  
Most Popular News Stories : Kent County Show going back to its farming rootsNews Stories : Michael Fuller steps down as Kent Chief ConstableNews Stories : Romeos needed to even up mass speed date eventNews Stories : Kent County Show going back to its farming rootsNews Stories : Michael Fuller steps down as Kent Chief ConstableNews Stories : Romeos needed to even up mass speed date eventSports Stories : Kent complete Bandara signingSports Stories : VIDEO - sports editor takes on Kent's new spinnerSports Stories : Kent offer triallists an incentiveSports Stories : Kent complete Bandara signingSports Stories : VIDEO - sports editor takes on Kent's new spinnerSports Stories : Kent offer triallists an incentiveBlogs : Why the militant cyclist represents all that is worst about attitudes in BritainBlogs : New Apple iPad may be a bit of a disappointment, but you'll still want one Blogs : Immigrants - one rule for us, one rule for them
LOCAL WEATHER TODAY
Sponsored by norfolkline.com
MIN  -1 °C   MAX  2 °C     Light snow
Next 5 days
OPINION POLL
Was Chief Constable Mike Fuller good for Kent?
Search for jobs
Search for the latest JOBS in Kent
Enter job title or keywords      Location (enter town or district)
     
Jobs by Email
Jobs by Email
Be the first to receive the latest jobs delivered to your inbox
Search for properties
Search for PROPERTY for sale in Kent
Property   
Price 
Bedrooms 
To     
Location (enter town or district) 
Search for cars
Find 1000s of CARS for sale
Make 
Model 
Min.   
Max. 
Your Local Community
The latest news, sport, business, entertainment and local information where you live...
Dad's hate campaign on daughter after adoption
Printable version Email to a friend Share this story Add your comment Contact us
Canterbury Magistrates Court
Angry Desmond Noone mounted a campaign of terror on a family who adopted his daughter, a court heard.

Target for Noone's anger was the Bethune family who he bombarded with a series of vicious letters and pranks.

Noone, 49, even sent undertakers to the family home in Herne Bay in the middle of the night after telling them head of the house Michael Bethune was dead.

He carried out his vendetta from his home at North Quay, Great Yarmouth.

Noone admitted harrassment when he appeared at Canterbury Magistrates Court, today (July 15).

Julie Farbrace, prosecuting, said Noone couldn't accept his daughter Anne-Louise, now 20, didn't want anything to do with him.

She was adopted by the Bethunes, aged eight, in 1997.

When she was 13 she insisted on writing to her father telling him she didn't want to know him.

Noone accused the Bethunes of brain washing the girl into hating him.

One letter read:"Hello you cowards you can run but you can't hide.You'll need to get the hell out of Herne Bay mighty soon."

Then he raided their dustbin and posted rubbish back to them before threatening to torch a boat Mr Bethune owned.

He even alleged Michael Bethune was dealing drugs.

Mrs Farbrace said: "He caused the family to feel fear.They were scared to go out.

"One night undertakers arrived to collect Mr Bethune's body and petrol was poured through their letter box.

"Mr Bethune was afraid to leave his wife alone.He caused the family serious stress and alarm."

Natasha Spreadborough,defending, said Noone was reacting to a Facebook campaign against him.

She said:"Resentment had been bubbling under for 12 years and it got out of control. He was a man consumed by grief at losing his daughter.No real harm was intended. He made a knee jerk reaction."

Noone was given a conditional discharge for two years and banned from going within five miles of Herne Bay.

He was ordered to pay £60 costs.
POSTED: 15/07/2009 15:29:16

For all your Kent news log on to kentnews.co.uk and pick-up your free midweek local paper; available every Wednesday from all good newsagents, supermarkets and petrol stations.
Bookmark with:
Email to a friend:
Comments:
ONLINE DIGITAL NEWS
Click to read your choice of local paper
Select an area:
Choose a newspaper: