Residents of housing complex being ‘terrorised’ by ’neighbour from hell’

Residents of a Queensland housing complex say they are being “terrorised” by a “neighbour from hell” who has been convicted of assault and animal cruelty.

A “neighbour from hell” has been accused of “terrorising” residents of a Sunshine Coast public housing complex.

Troy Bennett was convicted last year of assaulting his neighbour and belting his dog.

A 63-year-old grandmother named Debbie told A Current Affair that she lived beside Bennett at a housing complex and described it as a “nightmare”.

He was moved on from that complex after he assaulted her in a frightening encounter that occurred in early 2023.

“It’s a nightmare. A complete nightmare,” she said, when describing what it was like living next to him.

“He came flying down and grabbed me from behind and started putting his knuckles into my head.

“He was whispering in my ears ‘I love you’. Really creepy.”

He reportedly assaulted a grandmother early last year. Picture: A Current Affair

Bennett was given a suspended sentence over the assault.

However, instead of being kicked out of public housing altogether, he was shifted to another complex in Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast.

In a slew of audio clips obtained by the show, the 50-year-old can be heard screaming obscenities in the early hours of the morning, reportedly fuelled by alcohol.

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Debbie says she was assaulted by Bennett in a frightening encounter. Picture: A Current Affair

Bennett was also found guilty of animal cruelty after multiple accounts of him attacking his dog.

He reportedly yelled at the dog before kicking it in the ribs, the Courier-Mail reported.

The small cattle dog yelped in pain and tried to get away.

Bennett then followed it onto the balcony, grabbed it by the neck, and threw it down the concrete stairway.

Neighbours reported hearing the animal yelp. A picture of his injured dog was shown in court.

Bennett told police he was disciplining his pet for going to the bathroom inside.

Defence lawyer Liesel Rogan told the court Bennett had difficulties with alcohol abuse.

“That poor dog came to my place,” Debbie recalled.

“He would yell at it, scream and it, kick it.”

Bennett was charged with animal cruelty towards his pet dog. Picture: A Current Affair

He has been "terrorising" his neighbours. Picture: A Current Affair

Bennett served 17 days in custody, with his lawyer describing it as a “detox” for his alleged alcohol abuse.

It was the 5th time in a year he had faced court, with two probation orders and a suspended sentence.

He is now terrorising his neighbours again in a different complex, with calls for the Department to kick him out of the taxpayer-funded housing completely.

“Her quality of life since he has moved there has severely diminished,” an anonymous relative of an elderly resident living near Bennett told A Current Affair.

“She has suffered physically, emotionally, mentally.

The convicted criminal has been moved to another public housing complex. Picture: A Current Affair

“I have called multiple times, sent multiple emails, but nothing has been done.

“The Department of Housing should not be putting convicted criminals into residences with vulnerable people. Grandmothers, grandfathers, people who don’t feel safe when they’re alone.”

The relative said they had notified Queensland’s Department of Housing in writing about her concerns over his threats to kill the elderly woman, but says nothing had been done.

News.com.au has reached out to the Queensland Department of Housing for comment.

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