A disabled author and his wife have been warned they may be forced to sell their £500,000 home after being convicted of stalking their neighbors at a luxury estate in North Berwick, East Lothian. David Aston, 55, and his 58-year-old wife Jacqueline were found guilty of causing distress by recording their neighbors’ movements and making false reports to the police and local council, Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard.
The court also learned that Jacqueline Aston attempted to ruin the career of one neighbor, Catriona Henderson, by filing a malicious complaint with the General Teaching Council for Scotland. She falsely accused Henderson of neglecting her children and using drugs, including crystal meth and laughing gas. These claims were dismissed as baseless.
Sheriff John Cook, in a strong rebuke lasting nearly an hour, described the Astons’ conduct over a three-year period as “utterly appalling.” The Crown is now seeking non-harassment orders that could prohibit the couple from contacting their neighbors or entering their street, which may result in the Astons having to move.
Prosecutor Clare Green explained that a ban from the neighborhood is being considered due to the “extent of the stalking.” If enforced, it would necessitate the couple leaving their home, something their solicitor Mark Harrower acknowledged.
During the trial, which lasted 21 days, multiple neighbors described their lives as a “living hell” due to the Astons’ behavior. Neighbor Stuart McMorris, 46, testified that the situation became even more disturbing when he discovered that Mr. Aston had written a novel featuring a character with magical powers who seeks revenge on the local community.
Another neighbor, Robert Bain, said his retirement had become a nightmare, and he fell ill as a result of the harassment he and his wife endured. Bain and other neighbors were also forced to pay for legal representation in “vexatious” court cases instigated by the Astons.
Sheriff Cook will consider non-harassment orders and potential financial compensation for the affected neighbors during the sentencing hearing next month. He also stated that custodial sentences for both Astons are under serious consideration.
