A DAD was fined and his music equipment confiscated to allow his neighbour’s six-year-old daughter to get a good night’s sleep.

Robert McCorrisken, 44, of Tyrrells Way, Sutton Court-enay, near Abingdon, pleaded guilty at Didcot Magistrates’ Court on Monday to three breaches of a noise notice issued by Vale of White Horse District Council on June 29 last year.

The notice banned him from playing loud music – but within two weeks, the council received three complaints about noise coming from McCorrisken’s home.

The court heard that an environmental health officer visited the house following complaints on July 4, 5, and 14, and clearly heard loud night-time music.

To prevent further nuisance, the council officer confiscated two speaker systems, two DVD players and a midi hi-fi.

And the magistrates ruled they should not be returned.

McCorrisken was also fined a total of £265.

The court heard McCorrisken’s actions showed a complete lack of respect for his neighbours, forcing them to leave home on occasions, to get much-needed sleep.

McCorrisken pleaded guilty but claimed that his son had been responsible for the music on some occasions.

However, he accepted that as the tenant, it was his responsibility to obey the noise notice.

Alick Natton, senior environmental health officer at the council, said: “We are very pleased with the results of the case. This is a clear warning to anyone who thinks they can ignore a noise order.”

Angela Lawrence, Vale councillor responsible for environmental health, said: “We will act on complaints as quickly as possible to stamp out nuisance neighbours.

“Excessive noise is not acceptable.”

In 2008/2009 the council received 294 noise complaints and issued 13 notices, with one prosecution. In 2009/2010 there were 285 complaints, 30 notices and two prosecutions.

Last month, it emerged that the number of noise complaints received by Oxford City Council had increased by 70 per cent in the past six years.

The environmental health department’s out-of-hours team now deals with about 60 incidents each weekend.