Serious matter as Asbo bans laughing

They sound like the sort of instructions a primary school teacher would bark at his unruly pupils.

But these ruthless restrictions have been imposed on a father after a long dispute with neighbours over speed bumps.

Stuart Hunt, 45 is also banned from waving objects at people and adopting a menacing stance.

The long list of bizarre prohibitions is contained in an anti-social behaviour order (Asbo) delivered to Mr Hunt, of Drumnadrochit in Inverness-shire.

"The Asbo just dropped through my door without any warning. I'm not meant to stare at people or laugh. You wouldn't think it was the basis of an Asbo. It's wishy-washy nonsense," said Mr Hunt.

Mr Hunt is to challenge the terms of the Asbo. He appeared at Inverness Sheriff Court this week accused of breaching the order.

His lawyer, George Mathers, said the terms of the Asbo were "nonsensical". He said: "It contravenes any individual's human rights, a right to a proper, family life. How can you do that if you are not allowed to laugh at anyone. He would technically be breaching his order if he laughs at a joke."

He added: "It is ludicrous. This restricts the fundamental rights of an individual. The Asbo is pretty meaningless. It certainly proposes obligations way beyond what is proportionate.

"We are look at lodging a bill of suspension, which is a form of criminal appeal. We are claiming the Asbo is incompetent and, if it was accepted and there was no Asbo, then Mr Hunt would not face an alleged breach of threat."

Highland Council yesterday attracted ridicule for drawing up the Asbo conditions.

Matt Foot, a lawyer who founded the UK group Asbo Concern, said Mr Hunt's order was probably the most bizarre he had come across.

"It's absolutely ridiculous. Someone else was recently threatened about being sarcastic, but this one is unbelievable. If a person isn't allowed to laugh then we really are living in Stalin's Russia.

"You can imagine some wonderful defences, like 'I wasn't laughing, I was smirking', or 'I wasn't staring, I was just looking'."

"I'm amazed the court let this one through. Not only is it ridiculously prohibitive, it is also totally unenforceable."

The order was issued because of Mr Hunt's feud with Stuart and Shirley Latham. Two years ago they forced Mr Hunt to remove unlawful speed-bumps he had put near their home.

A spokesman for Highland Council refused to discuss why the conditions were drawn up but a statement said: "The council is confident that the order is competent."

So many bizarre ways to be antisocial

A NAKED would-be opera singer was among the bizarre list of people handed Asbos in Scotland last year. Other unusual orders:

A man from Wales was banned from hospitals except in real emergencies after he faked drug overdoses to stay in hospital.

A mother-of-two from Lincolnshire was banned from singing as her voice was so bad.

A man from Rugby was banned from borrowing money from a friend.

A Clackmannanshire man was banned from shouting at his television.

An 18-year-old from Swindon was banned from playing football in the street.

A Somerset man was banned from having a rooster.

A country and western fan from Leeds who plagued neighbours by playing Dolly Parton songs around the clock was banned from playing music in her home.