A GOWERTON woman accused of harassment has told city magistrates she played classical music in her home to deter burglars.

Marie Leena Alridge was giving evidence at her trial at Swansea Magistrates' Court.

Magistrates heard of an ongoing dispute between Alridge, of Yr Hen Gorlan, and neighbours David and Julie Davies.

It was heard that between May 12 and April 26, 2009, the 64-year-old was alleged to have undertaken a number of actions including playing her music loudly and throwing grass clippings into the Davies's garden.

Alridge pleaded not guilty to the single charge of harassment.

Representing herself yesterday, Alridge said she was not aware that she played her music loudly.

She said: "I love classical music. I play it after 9am. I use it as a deterrent for burglars."

The court heard that she played her music late at night, and police had arrived at her home on one occasion to find two radios blaring while she had been out.

Alridge said: "I play my music before I go to sleep. To me my music is not loud."

She denied damaging an artificial plant belonging to Mr Davies and said she did not have any grass in her garden to throw clippings into his garden.

Grabbing hold of the Bible while giving evidence, she denied any wrong-doings.

She claimed there was a conspiracy between the police and her neighbours, and alleged that Mr Davies was "racist" as she was a Spanish national.

She said: "I have tried to be friends with Mr and Mrs Davies, and apparently they do not have the same way of thinking."

Alridge claimed she had poltergeists in her house, but when asked by district judge Vivian Manning-Davies whether they had anything to do with her loud music, she said: "They did not turn the music up."

Mr Manning-Davies adjourned the case until August 31 for a pre-sentence report to be compiled.

He said: "At this stage it is about helping this lady, because if she can be helped it could help her neighbours."

She was granted conditional bail and told not to contact Mr or Mrs Davies.

laura.davies@swwmedia.co.uk