A Portslade teenager whose loud music made her neighbours' lives a misery has had her stereo equipment seized.

Brighton magistrates ordered two stereos confiscated from Jodie Hitchings by Brighton and Hove City Council to be permanently forfeited.

Hitchings, 19, a mother-of-one who lives in a flat in Downland Court, Stonery Road, admitted breaching a noise abatement notice.

She was fined £200 and ordered to pay £50 costs.

Neighbours living in flats above and below repeatedly complained to the council about the noise coming from her home day and night.

There was loud dance music playing and disturbance from the radio blaring out as well as shouting and swearing.

The neighbours were woken in the middle of the night and one resident had to use earphones to listen to their own music.

Len Batten, prosecuting for the council, said: "She was repeatedly asked to turn down the music but it had no effect."

A noise abatement notice was served on Hitchings on June 12. But the complaints continued.

On July 8 an environmental health officer visited neighbours' homes to monitor the noise.

He heard music as well as screaming and shouting by male and female voices.

The following day council officers returned with the police and seized two stereos from her flat.

Mr Batten said when Hitchings was given a receipt for her property she tore it up, shouted at the council officers, and made threats against her neighbours.

She said one stereo belonged to her son, adding: "Why don't you take his toys because they make a noise too."

Catherine Shelley, defending, said Hitchings, who had no previous convictions, accepted she had breached the noise abatement notice.

She said: "She has learnt a very hard lesson. She has had some expensive equipment confiscated."