Hard-Of-Hearing BLACK SABBATH Fan Jailed For Playing Music Too Loud

Lauren Mirzai of the U.K.'s Daily Record has issued the following report:

A hard-of-hearing BLACK SABBATH fan has been jailed for playing his music too loud.

Aging rocker William Porteous, 51, who wears a hearing aid, had been served with an ASBO (Anti-Social Behaviour Order) for previous noise breaches.

Now the heavy metal lover has been jailed for three months for breaching the order by blasting out his favourite OZZY OSBOURNE tunes at 9am.

Neighbours said the blaring music was so loud it made their floor vibrate.

Angry residents in the street in Hillview Terrace, Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire, contacted their local council to complain about the deafening din.

When environmental health inspectors from Clackmannanshire Council arrived, they confirmed the music was so loud that the living room floor of the house next door was shaking.

Yesterday, George Higgins, defending, told Alloa Sheriff Court: "He had a hearing aid which became broken during an assault on him and he didn't have the £190 for a replacement.

"The windows were open, the washing machine was on and there was someone from the council cutting the grass outside, but Mr Porteous accepts he was wrong to play as loudly as he did.'

Porteous had been playing songs by Ozzy's old band BLACK SABBATH, famed for hits such as "Paranoid".

The lawyer added: "Apparently there are long periods of the album which were relatively quiet, described by Mr Porteous as mellow, and all of a sudden there are loud bursts of rock music.

"Knowing there was an interim ASBO against him, he should have taken more care. He is going to make an appointment to get a replacement hearing aid."

Jobless Porteous had been taping one of his favourite albums for a friend and insisted that he did not realise how loud it was.

Yesterday, the council's head of housing, property and benefit advice, John Gillespie, said he was pleased at the outcome He added: "I'm sure it will be good news for the community in Hillview Terrace.

"This is the first breach of an ASBO in this area to be dealt with by the court and it has resulted in a custodial sentence.

"I hope this sends a strong message to others who think they can get away with persistent anti-social behaviour."

Porteous received an ASBO in April after complaints about the deafening music from parties in the council house he shares with girlfriend Sheila Morrison, 43, The couple were soon arrested after they were heard screaming at each other.

They denied making the din and said it was coming from "EastEnders" on their TV.