AN 82-year-old man has become the oldest person to receive an anti-social behaviour order (Asbo) - for playing his television at full blast day and night.
John Kirkpatrick claimed he turned the TV up to full volume only to drown out his neighbour's singing.
Now Mr Kirkpatrick faces up to six months in prison if he refuses to turn down the TV and cease hostilities with his club singer neighbour, Tommy Dunn, 65.
The pensioners live in adjoining retirement bungalows and each blames the other for the row.
Disabled Mr Dunn, who has had both legs amputated, would belt out repeated renditions of Ten Green Bottles, the National Anthem, and Jumpin' Jack Flash at the top of his voice, Mr Kirkpatrick said.
He claimed the singing was so loud he could hear it through the walls of his bungalow and it stopped him sleeping.
But council officials found it was Mr Kirkpatrick who was making the noise - blasting his neighbour with TV and the radio all day and into the night.
When quizzed about the TV "torture", Mr Kirkpatrick, who lives with his son - also called John - said it was in retaliation for Mr Dunn's singing at his Peel Street home, in Carlisle, Cumbria.
But the explanation did not stop Carlisle County Court putting an Asbo on the pensioner when he appeared yesterday.
The court heard how the Kirkpatricks had a similar dispute with a previous tenant, who moved out.
The court proceedings have landed them with a legal bill of more than £2,000.
Mr Kirkpatrick senior was unrepentant last night.
He said Mr Dunn's singing was to blame, adding: "I have been sleeping with earmuffs on. I have been here 25 years and I'm not moving."
But Mr Dunn, a retired road worker and club compere, said: "I haven't had a proper night's sleep in the last three years.
"It all started with them banging on the walls. They keep saying I have wild parties and I have women in here singing, but there's not a shred of truth in it - I lead a quiet life.
"At one point I was on the point of doing myself in."
But he vowed he would not be moved.
"They will not get me out of here. I'm staying put," he said.
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