Barnet man pleads guilty to killing neighbour’s Koi carp in pond dispute

A 76-year-old Barnet man admitted killing his neighbour’s Koi carp and damaging a fishpond after months of disputes over noise. Gerry Duffy, of Hadley Road, pleaded guilty at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on 4 August 2026 to charges of criminal damage relating to the incident in March 2026.

The court heard Duffy used motor oil and detergent to destroy the water pump and pipes belonging to Andreas Ptohides. Prosecutor Shahid Iftakhar told the court the act killed ‘five or six’ of Ptohides’s Koi carp and caused up to £565 in damage, as reported by MyLondon.

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Noise dispute escalated over months

Duffy had repeatedly complained to Ptohides about the noise from the water pump, which he said disrupted his sleep. The court heard Duffy warned his neighbour he would ‘take matters into his own hands’ if the issue was not resolved, according to the prosecution’s statement reported by The Standard.

An environmental officer visited Duffy’s home and advised him to either move or keep his windows closed to reduce the noise. Duffy’s solicitor, Elliott Stern, told the court his client had tried to resolve the dispute without resorting to violence, as reported by MyLondon.

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“Out of sheer frustration and lack of sleep, Mr Duffy, out of character, I would say, lost his mind and committed various damages.”

Elliott Stern, defence solicitor

CCTV footage showed Duffy entering Ptohides’s garden to damage the equipment. The prosecution confirmed the footage was presented as evidence during the hearing, as reported by both MyLondon and The Standard.

What happens next

Duffy was sentenced later the same day, though the court did not release details of the penalty by the time of reporting. The case was adjourned for sentencing after his guilty plea, with no further hearings scheduled at this stage.