Woman fined over noisy sex sessions

A woman has been fined £200 for disturbing neighbours with her noisy sex sessions. Caroline Cartwright was found guilty of breaching an abatement notice served on her after 25 complaints to police about her romps with husband Steve. The 47-year-old denied the latest five charges, but was convicted after Sunderland magistrates listened to recordings of the loud lovemaking.

Environmental health officers placed recording equipment in the flat next door to the couple's house in Hall Road, Concord, Washington. The Cartwrights' neighbour Rachel O'Connor pressed a button on the machine every time she was disturbed by noise from next door. She said: "It is sounds of a sexual nature. It comes from both parties, the man and the woman."

Ms O'Connor told the court that when she first moved into Hall Road, in November 2007, the noise started at midnight and lasted until 3am. Now, she said, the noise starts at about 6.30am and lasts until 9am. The tape made in Ms O'Connor's flat was recorded through a sound-proofed wall, but words and the sound of slapping were audible.



Environmental health officer Pamela Spark told the court she had heard 23 recordings of the couple having sex. She said: "The recordings contained an excessive screaming female voice. I felt that the noise was a clear breach of the abatement notice at that level."

Partially-deaf neighbour Margery Ball said she has not had a decent night's sleep in two years because of the Cartwrights. Peter Lowthian, defending, said the sound problem worked both ways, and Cartwright heard Ms O'Connor having sex, Mrs Ball's television and typing and conversations from the business below. He claimed the couple had been targeted, and were the victims of vandalism and abusive behaviour.

Cartwright told the court: "I am not making the noise on purpose. I have no desire to hurt anybody or damage any property." Cartwright was fined £200, plus £300 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.