Millionaire mum and daughter who became 'obsessed' with neighbours found GUILTY

A mum and daughter have been convicted of stalking their village neighbours after developing an 'unhealthy obsession' towards them. Susan Chen, a former Chinese intelligence officer, and her daughter Linda Lu, a lawyer, were found guilty of causing serious alarm or distress to James and Lynn Smith.

The duo, aged 61 and 35, defended themselves during a five-week trial, claiming they were the victims of "stalking and harassment". However, a jury at Lincoln Crown Court took less than two hours to convict them of stalking the Smiths between 15 July and 29 September 2023.

The pair showed no reaction as the guilty verdicts were announced. Prosecutors claimed that Ms Chen and Ms Lu filmed and hurled verbal abuse at the Smiths while they were in their garden in Bassingham, Lincolnshire, located six miles south of Lincoln.

They were also accused of following Mr Smith in public and deliberately creating excessive noise. Mr Smith, who has lived in the village with his wife and two children for 12 years, reported several incidents to the police, with audio and interactions captured on recording devices and CCTV.

The court was told that Ms Chen moved into the rented semi-detached property with her British partner in March 2023 and was later joined by her lawyer daughter, Ms Lu, reports the Mirror.

Ms Chen informed the jury that she had previously served in the Chinese Army for 14 years, rising to the rank of Major, before becoming a millionaire through her corporate career. The court heard that Ms Chen met Ms Lu's father during her time in the army, where he rose to the rank of General before retiring.

She later moved to the UK for a new challenge and found a new partner, with whom she frequently relocated around the country. Just three months after settling in Bassingham, the mother and daughter were accused of harassing their next-door neighbours, including shouting derogatory abuse and causing "periods of loud metallic banging".

On July 15, the neighbours noticed Ms Chen photographing them from an upstairs window in her home, prosecutor Steve Taylor told the court. A dispute ensued three days later when neighbour James Smith was trimming a front hedge outside his home and Ms Chen came out to tell him he "couldn't trim" the hedge as it belonged to her.

Further incidents followed, including "a racket" coming from Ms Lu and Ms Chen's home on August 19, and "loud banging" on August 23. The Smiths left in late August to "try and get some respite", but upon their return, the banging from next door resumed "within 15 minutes".

On 30 August, a statement was made to the police by Mr Smith. The court heard from Mr Taylor that by September the incidents had become a daily occurrence and did not cease even after the police had paid the defendants a visit.

The defendants, were taken into custody on 5 September and once again towards the end of the month. In court, videos captured by Mr Smith were played, with allegations made that the defendants could be heard using derogatory language, including the term "retards".

PC Jordan Bathie-Drexler, who led the investigation, stated: "Nobody should fear sitting in their own garden, walking their children to school, or worry about barrages of abuse on a regular basis, simply because their neighbours have developed an unhealthy obsession with them.

"Stalking has such a negative impact on a victim's life; it consumes them, takes over their feelings of wellbeing, happiness, and safety, and leaves them vulnerable. I want to take a moment to praise the victims in this case, who have conducted themselves with absolute dignity in the face of a very difficult case. Todays guilty verdict is a welcome one, and we hope that the victims in this case can now find a way to move forward."

Sentencing has been postponed until December by Judge James House KC.