Dorothy Evans denies six charges of breaching the restraining order

Dorothy Evans, 78, from Abergavenny, is also accused of deliberately trying to smash up another neighbour's pond using a spade.

The jury at Cardiff Crown Court was told that her neighbours are protected from her by a restraining order.

But she allegedly breached the order six times last year, the court was told.

Cardiff Crown Court was told how there was an "unhappy history" between Mrs Evans and her neighbours.

Prosecuting Peter Davies said that one neighbour, Margaret Jones, caught the pensioner trying to vandalise her garden pond.

He told the court: "There is a hole in the fence at the rear of Miss Jones' house.

"Evans put a spade through that and was deliberately trying to chip away at stones around the ornamental garden pond.

All of these actions were directed against her neighbours Peter Davies, prosecuting

"She was spoken to about that and what Evans said and the manner in which it was said was deliberately abusive," he said.

Mrs Evans was also abusive to her other neighbours Julian and Andrea Edwards, the court heard.

Mr Davies claimed that she made "abusive and threatening" gesture towards Mr Edwards by drawing her finger across her throat.

"The element of abuse was paramount in that action and it was directed towards Mr Edwards who is protected by the order.

"All of these actions were directed against her neighbours.

"There has been an unhappy history to this matter."

Both Mr Edwards and Miss Jones installed surveillance cameras which captured Mrs Evans allegedly breaking the order.

Mrs Evans is also accused of balancing a brick precariously on a wall above where Mr Edwards' three-year-old son was playing.

The court heard claims that the OAP also deliberately moved her car to block in tradesmen visiting her neighbours' homes.

The jury was told that in 1999 the pensioner was made subject to a restraining order preventing her from abusing her neighbours or trespassing on their properties.

She denies six charges of breaching that order.

The trial continues.