A man who breached a court order made after he set up a laughing machine to annoy his neighbours has been told he must stop taunting them or face jail.

Keith Quartermain, 61, of Austin Place, Abingdon, was yesterday given a 28-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, as Judge David Morton Jack told him that his taunting of Catherine and Norman Fillier had been pathetic and childish.

Quartermain was also made the subject of a five-year restraining order, a three-year supervision order and ordered to pay £400 court costs.

In July, Quartermain was found guilty of breaching a restraining order which banned him from making contact with his neighbours, the Filliers and David Quick, and their families.

He had laughed at the Filliers on several occasions and sang 'who's got the sack' at Mrs Fillier. This was related to a false allegation that she had been sacked from her job as a teacher.

Exactly three years ago yesterday Quartermain had been made subject of the original three-year restraining order after setting up a "laughing machine" and installing abusive signs in his garden.

Peter Coombe, defending, handed the judge references from other neighbours, who got on well with Quartermain.

Mr Coombe said: "This is a man prone to bouts of depression, who has had a serious thyroid problem since 1994, had a stroke in 1998, has high blood pressure and has suffered from kidney stones."

Yesterday, the judge told Quartermain: "This is the last chance saloon.

"Your excuses have been childish. Eight times in 12 years you have been before the courts."

Previously Quartermain had been bound over to keep the peace, put on probation, ordered to pay compensation, been made the subject of a restraining order and had possessions confiscated.

The restraining order bans Quartermain from contacting the Filliers or the Quicks, entering their houses or gardens, or displaying any boards at his own house, except to say it is for sale or to let.

It states he must not make offensive or insulting sounds which can be heard outside his own home.