Jason Matthew Finneran: Man fronts Warwick court after harassing person into resolving bitter dispute

The Warwick man claimed it was extreme frustration after months of antagonism that drove him to taking matters into his own hands to resolve the latest conflict.

IN COURT: Jason Matthew Finneran pleaded guilty to using a carriage service to harass another person in Warwick Magistrates Court. Picture: file / News Regional Media​

A Warwick man has claimed it was extreme frustration that drove him to repeatedly call his neighbour’s relative to pressure them into resolving a dispute, even after the other person blocked his number.

Jason Matthew Finneran first contacted his target on October 4 last year over a flood light his neighbour had put in on the second storey of his house, which reportedly shone directly into Finneran’s property.

Warwick Magistrates Court heard the 51-year-old repeatedly asked them to get the neighbour to turn off the light until they refused to be involved as they didn’t live at the house and blocked Finneran’s number.

Police prosecutor Steve de Lissa said that didn’t stop the Warwick man, calling his neighbour’s relative another six times until the other person eventually reported the harassment to police on November 2.

Sergeant de Lissa added Finneran didn’t leave any voice messages, and was at no point threatening or abusive towards the other person.

“It has been a longstanding neighbour dispute between the parties in relation to the closeness of their properties,” he said.

“The light is up high on the side of the two-storey house and shines down into the property. It’s a possibility I can’t confirm or deny, but I can’t see a need to have the light on all the time.”

“It’s a squabble that’s been going on for quite some time, and there is some antagonism there.”

Defence lawyer Phillip Crook contended the flood light was only the most recent incident in the bitter dispute.

He claimed Finneran’s neighbours were responsible for a fence covered in “offensive graffiti”, damage to another fence, and threatening Facebook posts in the months leading up to this incident.

“The light is now so bad he’s had to put up a shield to block it out. He’s reported it to police but was told it was a local shire issue, so he’s now gone to the council,” Mr Crook said.

Magistrate Julian Noud acknowledged the flood light would be a disturbance to Finneran and his partner, but gave him a stern warning to resolve any future arguments lawfully.

Finneran pleaded guilty to one count of using a carriage service to harass.

He was placed on a six-month good behaviour bond and no conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Jason Matthew Finneran: Man fronts Warwick court after harassing person into resolving bitter dispute