Lu: Sent vexatious claims
A solicitor and her mother, who repeatedly abused their neighbours and played loud and taunting music, have each been sentenced to five and a half years in prison.
Linda Lu, 35, and Susan Chen, 61, were found guilty of stalking involving serious alarm or distress following a six-week trial in October – it had been expected to last seven days.
As part of their stalking activities, Ms Lu served multiple “entirely vexatious” civil letters of claim on their victims, according to Lincolnshire Police.
Lincoln Crown Court issued both women with a restraining order without limited time, whose prohibitions include contacting the victims and their family, and other witnesses, or from contacting their employers.
They must also not attend any location those people may be, or enter the village of Bassingham in Lincolnshire, where the events took place.
A separate restraining order was also issued not to contact either police officer involved in the case directly or indirectly.
On sentencing, Judge James House KC said that the pair had begun a “persistent, calculated and appalling series of behaviours designed to cause the victims the maximum distress possible”, adding that it was “one of the most serious cases of this kind that this court has had to deal with”.
Both victims were praised by the judge for showing “remarkable courage” throughout the trial process.
Lead investigating officer, PC Jordan Bathie-Drexler, said: “This case might be mistaken as a neighbour dispute. But what on the face of it looked like ASB [anti-social behaviour], was actually offending against the victims that took place 24 hours a day, seven days a week, over a three-month period until the offenders were remanded in custody.
“All steps of intervention and control – which included community warning notices, visiting from police and words of advice, working with the ASB officers at North Kesteven District Council – were ignored by the suspects, who made it their mission to torment the victims.”
Before they were charged, the mother and daughter were issued with community protection notices, warning letters, and arrested on several occasions.
PC Bathie-Drexler added: “In almost 10 years of policing, I have never seen such persistent, relentless and unprovoked offending by a suspect.
“Linda Lu utilised her position as a registered solicitor in order to carry out an all-out war on the victims of this case. This case has involved hundreds of hours work by police, as well as multiple witnesses who came forward assisted in the case and ensuring justice prevailed.”
