A musician has told how he went through 18 months of hell after being targeted by his 'vile' neighbours in a dispute over a piece of land.

Flautist Paul Cheneour, from River, was tormented by 70-year-old Graham Totterdell and his wife April, 46.

The pair sprayed his house with graffiti and dog faeces, got a friend to smash windows and began making menacing phone calls.

They also invented sex claims about Mr Cheneour, which were reported to police.

Former Merchant sailor Graham Totterdell, 70, of Minnis Lane, River has now been jailed for 20 months after pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice and harassment.

His wife was jailed for 16 months after admitting perverting the course of justice. They were each ordered to pay their victim £1,500 compensation by July next year.

Mr Cheneour, who plays in the Zen Bicycle Band and has been named as one of the top 100 jazz flautists of all time, told of his ordeal after the sentencing, saying: 'I am so relieved it is finally over.'

Prosecutor Vivian Walters told Canterbury Crown Court how the bullying campaign began in September 2014 over a concrete fence the Totterdells put up.

When Mr Cheneour, of Badger Rise, objected he began receiving abusive letters.

His neigbours threatened to allow their two Rottweilers loose on his property, smeared his house with graffiti and dog faeces, got a friend to smash windows, and began making menacing phone calls.

But the prosecutor said the Totterdells then made totally spurious sex claims against the musician which were reported to the police.

Ms Walters said that when police investigated the allegations they quickly realised they were a pack of lies and part of a long-term campaign of bullying.

However, the couple still made Mr Cheneour’s life hell by continuing to make allegations which almost wrecked his career as a musician.

That led to him suffering endless attacks on his home, his car and his reputation which almost wrecked his livelihood.

But today a judge jailed the Totterdells, telling the court: "Mr Cheneour is completely innocent of these allegations by this couple.

"A full police investigation has revealed the claims to be completely false, baseless and disgusting."

After the hearing, Mr Cheneour said: “I am so relieved this ordeal is finally over.

“This couple waged a systematic campaign against me in which they had sought to totally destroy me and my livelihood.

"This ordeal has taken a huge toll on both my professional and personal life. They have taken up too much of my time and attention and have wasted a year of my life."

He added: "I have suffered a prolonged stream of false allegations, vile abuse, harassment and criminal damage.

“Quite severe symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome, which I suffered following a car accident in 1991, we re-ignited.”

He revealed he installed CCTV and floodlighting at his home, change his travel routes to try to prevent his tyres being slashed.

Mr Cheneour told how his plans to release his new album Road Trip were put on hold because he felt “frightened and intimidated” and had to stay away in hotels.

“I stopped playing music locally and I no longer invited friends or guests to my house as I didn’t want anyone close to me to be exposed to any harassment or threats.”

His neighbour David Baker, who attended the sentencing hearing, told how a number of people in the area had suffered similar attacks, where cars would be smeared in dog faeces and tyres slashed.

He added: “When Paul told me what he was enduring I understood how he felt. It has been a total nightmare for me as well. This couple has tried to ruin my job with their lies.

"They are just awful bullies who intimidate anyone who stands up to them.”

"This couple waged a systematic campaign against me in which they had sought to totally destroy me and my livelihood" - Paul Cheneour

Both praised PC Ian Woodland, who investigated the false allegations, and “brought peace back to the street.”

Paul said: “I can't thank him highly enough. Throughout it all, and despite the serious allegations which had been made against me, I had total trust in this officer’s integrity. He deserves to be commended.”

Simon Taylor, defending Graham Totterdell, said his client was an unwell man who had done a lot for charity by competing in marathons.

But he added that no-one reading the facts could feel “anything but disgusted by Totterdell’s behaviour towards Mr Cheneour.”

Judge Adele Williams told the Totterdells that the police had wasted money investigating the false allegations.

“Your allegations were particularly grave and could have ruined this man's standing in the community, “ she added.