A German man and his wife went through "hell" when a neighbour spent four years blaring out the themes to Dambusters, Dad's Army and Rule Britannia, a court heard.

The couple claim maths teacher Geoffrey Butler, 54, racially harassed them by playing wartime Vera Lynn classics, doing a Nazi salute and broadcasting one of Churchill's speeches towards their home in Lower Upnor.

Butler strongly denies waging a four-year hate campaign by whistling and playing the patriotic music, staring at his neighbours and making needless complaints about them.

Reinhard and Kathryn Wendt moved to tranquil cul-de-sac Margetts Place in 2007, but they fell out with Butler over a small triangle of land just six feet long.

The row escalated and Butler, whose family members served in the RAF including one in the 617 "Dambusters" squadron, was arrested last May and charged with racially-aggravated harassment.

The teacher of 28 years told officers: "I haven't been doing this. It may happen on the odd occasion, whatever. Was it illegal? It wasn't. I don't see anything wrong with Dame Vera Lynn. I come from an RAF family."

Yet Mr Wendt told Medway magistrates he was having nightmares in an emotionally-charged hearing.

He said: "It was like waterboarding, after a while a little whistle was enough. It let me know he was there and watching me."

The songs included Vera Lynn's White Cliffs of Dover, wartime hit Maybe it's Because I'm a Londoner and the Colonel Bogey March from Bridge On the River Kwai.

Social worker Mrs Wendt, who broke down in tears giving evidence, said: "It made me feel nervous and intimidated and I didn't want to go out into my back garden any more.

"I just want to live a peaceful life. I haven't looked for this trouble, I haven't asked for this trouble and I don't want to be here."

Mr Wendt, who moved to Britain from Germany in 1999, accused Butler of whistling the war tunes and playing them from his car stereo regularly since 2007.

He also claimed Butler would pretend to be on his phone next to the garden fence and talk loudly about Nazis.

Butler told officers: "I don't recall it and it certainly wouldn't be directed at him."

The homes of Reinhard and Kathryn Wendt (left) and Geoffrey Butler (right)

A two-day trial heard from the Wendts, neighbours and police and was shown recordings, photographic evidence and a diary the Wendts kept.

Butler complained to police about the Wendts several times, but said his calls were justified, including one after they posted a neighbourhood watch leaflet through his door.

The court heard he would stand on his garage roof and his ladder to stare at the Wendts, but Butler said he was sunbathing as his garden was too shady.

Butler denied racially aggravated harassment, adding he had been out of work since his arrest.

He told the court: "I had a job offer for this term at Strood Academy, but as soon as this case was mentioned it was withdrawn.

"As a teacher I am subject to enhanced checks which mean unproven allegations can still be mentioned."

The case did not finish on schedule and was adjourned for two months. Butler will take the witness stand on March 19, when he is expected to deliver a catalogue of accusations against the Wendts.

If found guilty he could face up to two years' jail.