A heavy metal fan who headbanged naked in his flat and deafened neighbours with loud music has been rocked with a £3,000 fine.

Simon Bowker made life miserable for folk in Upper Wellington Road, Brighton, blasting out tunes late into the night.

When Environmental health oficers went to investigate, they spotted the 26-year-old dancing around in the flesh from the pavement outside.

Bowker, 27 Upper Wellington Road, Brighton, failed to appear at a hearing at Brighton Magistrates' Court, where he was fined and ordered to pay £1,000 costs.

Len Batten, prosecuting for Brighton and Hove City Council, told the court neighbours in the flats called the council's noise patrol team on September 1 when the music was so loud they could not hear their own televisions.

Council officers Mike Greenwood and James Rawlinson, could hear music in every room when they went into the neighbouring flat and said neighbours would not have been able to sleep because of the disturbance.

The pair managed to attract Bowker's attention and he opened the front door after putting on a pair of jeans, said Mr Batten.

He appeared to be drunk and leant on the wall for support as the officers spoke to him.

The incident was the latest in a series of complaints about noise from the property. At the hearing, on Tuesday, Bowker was was found guilty in his absence of three charges of breaching a noise abatement notice - which was served on him in June.

The other two charges related to Bowker breaching the noise abatement notice by allowing his dog to bark continuously and playing loud music on, August 31.

Bowker was fined £1,000 for each offence, ordered to pay £1,000 council costs and £50 towards the Victim Support Scheme.

After the hearing Councillor Geoffrey Theobald, chairman of Brighton and Hove City Council's environment committee, said: "The fines imposed in this case send out a clear message that this sort of noise nuisance is clearly not acceptable.

"It makes other people's lives a misery and will not be tolerated."

Last night one of Bowker's neighbours, who did not want to be named, said: "It's about time. It's been a nightmare living here over the past few months.

"Hopefully this fine will finally make him see sense. Or at least change his taste in music."

Have you suffered at the hands of a neighbour from hell? Ring the newsdesk on 01273 544519.