A COUPLE who were banned from their own street after conducting a hate campaign against neighbours have sold their £500,000 home.
David Aston, 56, and wife Jacqueline, 58, terrorised three sets of locals for over three years in North Berwick, East Lothian.
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Their victims told a trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court their lives had been made a ‘living hell’ between 2018 and 2021.
Sheriff John Cook issued a non-harassment order banning the Astons from the street they live on which is due to kick in on January 31.
The couple placed their home on the market in November for offers over £500,000.
A closing date was set for early last month and the luxury four-bedroom property is currently listed online as being sold.
Estate agents Simpson and Marwick described the house as being in ‘immaculate’ condition that would make an ‘ideal’ family home.
The property has a front and back garden with stunning views of Berwick Law and comes with a ‘unique glass balustrade fence and patio area’.
A trial was told David, a former chartered accountant, had written and self-published a novel that featured a character who develops superpowers following a stroke.
The court heard one family had been recorded 248 times by the Astons, including 67 times in just one day, and were forced to cancel family gatherings in their garden due to the constant surveillance.
While a second family were maliciously reported to the local authority 140 times over five months and complaints made to the police they were neglecting and abusing their children.
Sheriff Cook sentenced the pair to a 15 year non-harassment order banning any contact with six neighbours and said they must pay two couples a total of £10,000 in compensation.
Jacqueline was ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work while her husband was placed on supervision for three years and must wear a tag under curfew for eight months.
Sheriff Cook said the couple’s behaviour had caused their neighbours “very serious distress and significant psychological harm”.
The court was told Jacqueline was forced to resign from her job as a nurse at a local care home after being convicted.
David stepped down from positions with the Head and Brain Injury charity, the Chest, Heart and Stroke organisation and the Stroke Association.
