Angry resident turns hose on church choir
A MAN living next door to a church became so incensed at the choir practice he repeatedly turned his hose on the devout group, an Ipswich court heard.
The group practised every Tuesday night at St Agnes Anglican Church in Esk and neighbour Rodney Allen Hyde had had enough.
The 61-year-old lives at the caravan park behind St Agnes and his window backs directly onto the church. Despite asking the church to close the windows during practice, their hymn singing didn't let up.
Ipswich Magistrates Court that heard on December 4 Hyde decided enough was enough.
After yelling abuse at the choir from his caravan, Hyde grabbed a garden hose and pushed it through the window of the church.
The water soaked the choir, but they kept singing. Twice more Hyde hosed them down, and as he sprayed them with water he yelled at them to stop their songs.
The court heard he also threw objects at the church. When police arrived, Hyde told them he was "annoyed" at the singing and the group "weren't responding to his demands to stop singing".
Officers asked why Hyde hadn't called the police himself, to which he said he'd resolved to take matters into his own hands.
Hyde, who had no previous criminal record, pleaded guilty to public nuisance.
He told the court he'd previously asked the choir if they'd mind shutting their windows during practice because he had trouble sleeping at night. Hyde said he didn't want to move his caravan because he was established.
He said the choir would now practise in the community hall. Hyde was fined $120 without a conviction recorded.
