A GWENT widow once described by a judge as "the original neighbour from hell" is facing jail after being convicted of breaching a restraining order.

Dorothy Evans, 78, of Park Crescent, Abergavenny, was convicted of one breaching the order made at Cwmbran magistrates' court in 2001 which was aimed at protecting her neighbours from harassment.

Evans blocked in a van belonging to a plumber working at the house next door with her white Rover Metro, Cardiff crown court heard.

The jury yesterday found Evans not guilty of three charges of breaching restraining orders and, on the direction of Judge David Morris, not guilty of two similar charges.

She was cleared of making a threatening gesture towards neighbour Julian Edwards, placing a house brick dangerously on a ledge where his three-year-old son was playing, damaging the surround of a pond belonging to neighbour Margaret Jones and directing a hose pipe on the property.

The court heard that Evans was convicted in 2001 of breaches of a restraining order and was given a suspended prison sentence.

The offence for which she was convicted yesterday happened in February, 2003, during the two-year suspended sentence period, meaning the jail term could be put into force.

Sentencing was adjourned for reports and a psychiatric assessment. The judge said he needed an up-to-date assessment of Evans' state of mind before deciding on a sentence for the new offence, and whether the suspended sentence should be enforced in whole or part.

She was released on bail on condition that she did not communicate with the three neighbours unless for emergency.

Prosecutor Peter Davies asked the judge to consider imposing an anti-social behaviour order on Evans.

He told the crown court that CCTV cameras had been in action outside her house and that over last weekend, she had been heard shouting "Cry, baby" at Mr Edwards, who broke down giving evidence during the trial last week.

Judge David Morris told Evans: "I formed the view at a previous hearing that you are a vicious, evil-minded old woman who wanted to make the lives of neighbours utter misery."

Evans has previous convictions for theft, causing actual bodily harm, and shoplifting.