Is this slanderous?

Question

I have a next door neighbour, who has inherited the house from his father, he is about 43, he was an adopted child, and is very bitter. Before he came to our street, he was in trouble with the law, a heroin addict, and in court for assaults and breach of the peace. He used to come to see his dad, but he just shouted at him and made a lot of noise, his dad had a heart attack ultimately, and we suspect his behaviour did it. He has insulted me in the past, and threatened my two teen boys with a beating.Since 30 I have had a bad disability, my back is fused, and neck bent. He has shouted in my face and called me a "freak" if i was able i would have kicked his *** good and proper, but i can't, and in truth am wary of him, if he did hit me it could break something serious, neck or similar. My son is worried he might do it, as well, as he is so volatile, we have a dispute now over a leak on a roof, and he is worse now. Do I have an option to sue for slander, and defend myself that way

Well, the answers are varied so far, but helpful, as to what is slanderous here? That was my query in the first place, it seems it is in fact harrassment, and as for money, that doesn't bother me, but if I could rid this town of this maggot, I know everone would be thankful. If he comes to your town I'm sorry for that! Believe me he is a very mean individual, just yesterday, 2 ladies who work in the local council offices, they had helped find a contractor before for me, took a call from him, and he swore and insulted them! and they were trying to help! he was told, don't call again!! he's on methadone right now, but also drinks on top of it, so he is totally unstable, oh and smokes weed as well, I'm sure there's benefit fraud as well, he was always on benefits, but recently he has been"working" with a scaffolding co? He's dillusional as well, for instance he told me once he shot an argentine soldier in the conflict, he didn't in fact, it's evident he was never there.
Thanks 2 all

Answer 1

It's not slander, but you're barking up the wrong tree anyway.

What you need is some level of protection. The activities you have described amount to harassment under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 (see link to the Act below).

That gives you the right to sue for an injunction to prevent re-occurrence and damages (for what they are worth).

You'll need a solicitor but you may be eligible for legal services funding as a result of your disability.
Equally, so might your son if he's under 18.

Answer 2

I can't see any cause for slander here.

Calling you a "freak" isn't slander, its an insult. However, if you had hit him, or "kicked h is *** good and proper" as you put it, you might be charged criminally with battery and then sued as well.

Slander is the utterance to another person an untruth about someone when one knows that the statement uttered is false or one should have known that the statement was false. Libel is the publishing of an untruth.

I don't quite understand why you would have any dispute over a roof. Unless you share the roof, i.e. this is a duplex, then you let him live his life, and you pay no attention to him. Don't talk to him unless you have to, and stay away from him. If he hassles you or commits some criminal act, contact the police.

For further assistance, contact an attorney licensed in your jurisdiction. For a referral, contact your local or state bar association.

Answer 3

All police forces have a duty to investigate and record hate crime of any sort: by what he has said to you he has not only committed a public order offence ( causing you harassment alarm distress ) you could perceive that doing this was motivated by your disability.
contact your local police and council re problems you have with this neighbour so evidence can begin to be gathered re ASBOs. Keep a record of his behaviour and report incidents to police as and when they happen.
I have dealt with similar and it does take a long time time to get the desired results but the alternative is to suffer and be a victim to his behaviour.
Your dispute with the roof is a civil matter and I suggest any correspondance be througha solicitor so that you don't get drawn into conflict yourself ( where you could be criticised ) and any threats / retaliation you might suffer are reported to police immediately they occur.
Where possible try to ensure there are other witnesses to any problems you have with him ie if he verbally abuses you again as this adds to the supporting evidence that Crown Prosecution require to bring about a conviction.
I would strongly advise you get further advice from your local police officer and to make them aware of the problems you are experiencing

Answer 4

Well Harrassment, is what you have. Slander is if he like puts an ad in your local news paper, writing false deffimating statements. What you need to do is post a sign on your property somewhere stating "NO TRESPASSING" because by law if you have that sign and he threatens you on your land like assault you then got him by the balls! Secondly you need to Make him aware that you need to stop talking/ harassing me. Because once you verbally or have in writing you want the harrassment to stop and he continues to do this once you told him to stop. Then you can file charges with the police to have the neighbor slapped with harrassment charges. I had a neighbor lady threating to phone the RSPCA or police because my little dachshund whined and barked to much in my back yard. She was leaving nasty notes on my windscreen on my property, and leaving threating phone messages. Finally the police told me to tell her if she does not stop contacting me she will be in trouble for harrassment, and trespassing on my property to leave ugly notes about how horrible I'am. which we live in a nice neighborhood and once this arose I went and knocked on all my neighbors (minus the single 46 spinster causing all this) and asked them if they hear my dog in our back garden? And if my dog was a nuesence to them? Every single one of the other neighbors said no, my dog is quiet. Not ever hear him. so it was just the weird woman next door harrassing my family. I have not been harrassed since I told told her to stop harrassing me and I do not get intimiated by your nasty notes left on my car. I also told her I spoke to the police, and if she files a false police report regarding the welfare of my dog, and the investigation proves my dog is well looked after , she(the neighbor) will be arrested for make a false claim. Which is a marjor offense here. She soon shut her mouth. Hope that helps. Good Luck and be safe.

Answer 5

To be slander, the statement has to be knowingly untrue (by the person who made it) and made in a public forum. So to be it sounds like you don't have a slander case. But you may have an assault case, even if he hasn't physically hurt you. Assault includes being verbally accosted.

Answer 6

Not slander, but verbal attacks like that can be treated as assault in many cases. You'd have to have witnesses to the events for it to stand up in court.

Answer 7

slander.. no, I dont think so.

you could try contacting Victim support.

They have local offices throughout the country as well as a national phone number and email address. They can advise you as to what you can do.

Try their website and see what happens. - good luck www.victimsupport.org

Answer 8

Should you do something ? Yes. Is it slander ? No. Contact the Police if someone is threatening you.

Answer 9

Do you share a roof??

I would go get a restraining order and hope he abides by it. I think I'm scratching my answer as your best bet would be some of the others!!! lol

Answer 10

I stay in Hawaii and N. Korea's dictator is "loopy" to assert the least. yet, as you suggested, Jehovah has his very own timetable, and we ought to constantly only have confidence in him. a number of my kin are worried, yet I instructed them to easily turn that subject over to Jehovah, he will manage it or permit issues play out, as he would not constantly intervene in mankind's affairs.