A businessman has been handed a restraining order after he allegedly threatened to hand his neighbour’s details over to Black Lives Matter following a planning row.
It is claimed Laxley Pennant – a property developer and salesman – threatened his neighbours during the six year campaign of stalking and harassment.
The 61-year-old was accused of threatening to harm his neighbour, Jolyon Furniss, and subjecting him and his partner, Emma Browne, to behaviour which amounted to stalking.
Pennant had reportedly become embroiled in the bitter war with neighbours and councillors after they objected to his plans to convert his barn into a holiday let.
During the campaign he allegedly threatened Mr Furniss saying a gang of Albanian scaffolders would ‘sort him out’ and he would post his details on the Black Lives Matter website.
He was also accused of warning Miss Browne: ‘The brotherhood will sort you out.’
In addition, Pennant was accused of spray painting BLM graffiti onto metal sheeting which faced their property, displaying a sign with biblical references and saying he would make his neighbours wish they had never lived there.
The businessman pleaded not guilty to all the charges, with the pleas being accepted yesterday. Prosecutors offered no evidence against him after he agreed to abide by a restraining order.
Laxley Pennant (pictured) allegedly threatened his neighbours during a six year campaign of stalking and harassment
Pennant was also accused of spray painting BLM graffiti (pictured) onto metal sheeting which faced his neighbours’ property
An image of the existing barn Pennant planned on turning into a house which he would then use as a holiday let
The father-of-five, who is listed as the director of two wholesale firms, had wanted to convert an old barn on his land in Henfield, West Sussex into a house which he planned on using as a holiday let.
A document submitted to Horsham District Council in 2017 contained the proposal to convert the existing barn into a two-bed self-contained holiday let unit of accommodation with parking for two vehicles.
But the property, sitting on the edge of the South Downs Nation Park, prompted objections from neighbours and an eventual rejection by council planners.
Reasons given for the dismissal were ‘noise and disturbance’ as well as an ‘erosion of rural character’ in the area.
Pennant was later accused of erecting a sign which read: ‘Polite Notice. Henfield and Woodmancote Parish Council, Horsham District Council & Neighbours.
‘We wanted a nice quiet leafy residential property/holiday let, you strongly objected.
‘Then discretionary blocked future applications under section 70C of the Town and Country Planning Act.
And he was also accused of erecting a sign which concluded: ‘Karma has no menu, you get served what you deserve. Stop complaining. BLM West Sussex’
‘In line with Local Government Planning Policy, which prefers Commercial over Residential, you now have a Heavy Metal Storage Compound.
‘Karma has no menu, you get served what you deserve. Stop complaining. BLM West Sussex.’
Graffiti in white paint of the letters BLM – for Black Lives Matter – also materialised on his fence.
At the time one local said: ‘He’s done it himself. He is absolutely playing the race card. We don’t talk as you can imagine.’
Another said: ‘He thinks the other residents are blocking his planning application because they don’t like a black man living here. He lives near barristers and a magistrate.’
At Brighton Crown Court Rachel Rodney, prosecuting, offered no evidence against Pennant after his barrister Beverley Cherrill agreed he would accept a restraining order.
Not guilty verdicts on all charges were recorded by Recorder Adrian Chaplin.
