Eminem fan gets TV ban

His hardcore lyrics and hip hop beats are not the most soothing of tunes, even when played at a low volume.

So when obsessed Eminem fan Sharon McLoughlin repeatedly pumped up the rapper's music so loud that it made her neighbours' furniture vibrate across the floor, they decided enough was enough.

They reported the 33-year-old to Birmingham City Council, which - despite confiscating several sets of hi-fi equipment - had to resort to seeking an antisocial behaviour order to try to keep the peace.

Yesterday, McLoughlin became the first person in the city to be banned from owning a stereo, radio or TV for two years. A judge was told that the mother of three, who played Eminem's hit Stan at ear-splitting decibel levels over and over again, was also being evicted from her council flat.

Neighbours endured a 'living hell' as she blasted out records day and night, Birmingham County Court was told. Environmental health staff measured the noise in the flat above and found it was 65dB - ten times louder than normal background noise and about the same as a passing train.

It was so loud, in fact, that floors and walls vibrated and one council officer could not even hold a conversation with people sitting less than 6ft away.

Sadie Renenhan, who lives in the flat above with her husband and their 15-month-old son, told officers: 'My settee moves across the living room, my son's cot moves across the floor and the constant music has me permanently on edge. My GP prescribed me antidepression tablets to cope.'

McLoughlin, of Meadway, Stechford, was given several warnings to curb her behaviour.

Council staff raided her flat four times and each time seized thousands of pounds of stereos, music tapes and CDs, the court heard. Once, they even took away a karaoke machine.

But, following each raid, she simply went out and bought more gear, the council's lawyer said.

Even an interim behaviour order granted in June failed to prevent her from generating excessive noise.

McLoughlin was also barred from causing harassment, alarm or distress anywhere in England and Wales for two years.