Patricia Bailey - ‘Foul-mouthed’ property dealer set to appeal against ASBO court ruling

by JAMIE WELHAM AND JENNIFER LIPMAN

NEIGHBOURS of a property developer have spoken of their relief after she moved out of her Marylebone apartment when she became the unlikely recipient of an Asbo.

Patricia Bailey, 60, was deemed to be such a nuisance that even the term “neighbour from hell” didn’t do her justice, leading a magistrate to say he wished he could ban her from the entire planet at a court hearing last summer.

The Asbo, which the West End Extra has learned she will appeal against in April, goes unusually far, ordering Ms Bailey to behave not just in her neighbourhood, but in the whole of England and Wales. It states: “You must not use threatening, abusive, aggressive or obscene language or behaviour towards any person, in any public place in England and Wales until further notice.”

Westminster Magistrates Court heard evidence that Ms Bailey abused women attending a charity meeting at a nearby apartment, calling them “whores” as well as causing alarm, distress and harassment to her neighbours in the New Cavendish Street block.

Following the ban, she moved out of the property to a block of luxury apartments overlooking Lord’s Cricket Ground in St John’s Wood.

Former neighbour neuroscientist Daniel Kellett said: “She screamed the whole place down and said the most vile things. “She would come round her on the balcony and stand by the window staring in at you with these huge sunglasses on. I’d ask her what she was doing and she’d say, ‘how dare you address me like that’. “It was horrible. You never know what was going to happen in the corridor.

“People here like to have a chat and be friendly, and in the middle of this there was this gorgon who decided she was going to spoil things. It’s wonderful as we got the outcome we wanted ,which was for her to move. We hope this won’t happen elsewhere.”

Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said he could not understand why Ms Bailey was appealing. “She had no cause for anything,” he said. “If she has got any new evidence she should have brought it up before. She can protest as much as she likes but all of us can’t be wrong. You don’t get a life Asbo for nothing.

“The woman was the most foul-mouthed person I’ve ever met in my life. I stopped entertaining because I didn’t know what was to be expected. I would have sold if it had gone on any longer. These flats aren’t cheap and I bought it to retire in, not to have all this aggravation.”

Westminster Council’s cabinet member for community safety, Councillor Daniel Astaire, said: “This is just the type of case that Asbos were made for. Mrs Bailey made life hell for her neighbours and her behaviour was simply inexcusable. Regardless of an individual’s age or status, we will not hesitate to take action against those who make their neighbours’ lives a misery.

“Along with the Metropolitan Police we will vigorously contest her appeal which we believe to be completely without substance or merit.”

Mrs Bailey was unavailable for comment but told the Daily Mail she and her husband were the real victims. She was reported as saying: “We were the victims but somehow they have managed to turn us into the perpetrators.”

Mrs Bailey made her fortune from buying and selling properties in Mayfair. The appeal hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court has been set for April 8 and 9.