Neighbours' four-year feud takes surprising new turn in row over stolen bricks

04 November 2023 , 09:23

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The neighbours row centres around a pathway that runs between their homes (Image: STEVE ALLEN)

A bitter feud between neighbours that’s been going on for four years recently took a new turn over a row about stolen bricks.

Kevin Grogan and Mohammed Alam have been anything but happy neighbours in the years they’ve spent living next to one another. Most recently, police officers reportedly had to be called to the homes after they got into yet another row.

The argument centred over allegations that Mr Alam moved a pile of bricks Mr Grogan had stacked on the communal pathway that ran between their houses - and threw them into a skip. Mr Grogan claims ownership of the communal pathway between their land, in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. In the past he’s clogged it up with building debris and even installed a padlocked metal gate to try and stop his neighbour accessing it.

Kevin Grogan at Manchester Magistrates Court where he was fined and lost his case (STEVE ALLEN)

Mohammed Alam with his wife Anju and daughter Aya (STEVE ALLEN)

The Mail Online reported that former builder Mr Gorgan was called a “neighbour from hell” during his four-year long battle with Mr Alam and his wife Anju. He was also said to have installed security cameras that intrusively overlooked the couple’s property. However, the case ended up in front of the magistrates court last month where the 68-year-old Mr Grogan was informed that the land was not actually his, and he had to remove the gate.

But Mr Grogan failed to remove the gate so Mr Alam reportedly took the issue into his own hands and used an angle grinder to remove the gate. The row boiled over again recently with police needing to intervene on the quiet street. Mr Grogan accused Mr Alam of removing a pile of bricks from the pathway, and dumping them in a skip.

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The gated off public alley that Mr Grogan claims he owns part of (STEVE ALLEN)

Footage emerged of the moment police were there, where Mr Grogan furiously berates police for not arresting his neighbour, and accused his neighbour of stealing the bricks. When one officer pointed out that there were better ways for them to spend their time, the pensioner continued ranting and then jumped into the skip to retrieve his bricks.

Two officers helped him restack his bricks against a wall before they left. Mr Grogan, a dad of three, moved into the home in 1989 with his wife Frances, 63. Speaking to the Mail, Mr Grogan accused his neighbour of theft and claimed he had proof part of the land belonged to him.

Mr Grogan was also ordered to move his invasive security cameras but claimed they were his wife's (STEVE ALLEN)

He said he had planned to use the bricks, which he reckoned were “probably worth £1 a pop in today’s prices”, to build a washroom onto his kitchen extension. He also claimed some of the rubbish along the pathway was his neighbour’s, not his. Mr Alam moved to Rochdale because his wife is from the area. They had previously lived in Hong Kong. He claimed three previous owners left the home because of Mr Grogan who had been a neighbour from hell.

After being handed a community protection notice to remove the gate and clear the land on the pathway, Mr Grogan was also fined £750, handed a £300 victim surcharge and made to pay £330 in costs. He was made to reposition the CCTV cameras as well, which have night-vision and audio recording, the Mail reported, but refused claiming they are his wife’s property.

The Mirror contacted Greater Manchester Police for comment.

Kieren Williams