A rent collector who was charged with being a noise nuisance denied playing his music loudly when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson telling her that the virtual complainant “just don’t like the music I play”.

Claude Gaskin, 54, of Deobirana Street, Prashad Nagar pleaded not guilty to playing his music set loudly and disturbing the peace to the annoyance of the neighbourhood on February 8. He was also charged with disorderly behaviour to which he also pleaded not guilty. He was remanded to prison.

Gaskin told the magistrate that he has lived in the area for some 18 years and never received a complaint but since the VC, Timothy Evarhart, who he referred to as “this white man”, moved into the area he began to receive complaints.

Gaskin further told the court that the VC, who lives four houses away from him, didn’t like the music he played. When the magistrate asked what kind of music he played, Gaskin told her Bob Marley and “all kind of music… the music don’t play loud he just don’t like it”.

Meanwhile, Evarhart admitted that he had told Gaskin’s wife that not everybody likes their kind of music but stressed that the situation was overbearing. He told the magistrate he once tried turning up his stereo too but it still could not drown out Gaskin’s music.

Evarhart, the pastor of the Bible Missionary Church, said he went to talk to Gaskin about the music but was abused by the defendant. He added that Gaskin told him that he could bring the police and he would abuse them too which he later did.

According to Police Prosecutor Inspector Stephen Telford, Gaskin was charged with behaving disorderly after he abused the police when they went to talk to him. Telford further added that Gaskin was in his home at the time and after abusing the police he turned up his music louder and told the police to do what they wanted.

Gaskin was then refused bail and he is to make another court appearance on Thursday in Court Three.