A Bradford couple described as "neighbours from hell" have been made the subject of an anti-social behaviour order.

Eighteen neighbours gave evidence against Mohammed Usman, 60, pictured, and his wife Zeenat, of Challis Grove, West Bowling.

During the four-day hearing at Bradford Magistrates' Court, district judge (magistrates) David Thomas heard how Usman would appear naked at his window, shine security lights into a neighbour's garden, film women and children from inside and outside his house and swear at children.

The order had been brought by Bradford Council against the couple, who have two children.

Judge Thomas said that there was "overwhelming and convincing evidence" as to what went on in the street. Usman's wife had supported him in his behaviour, he added.

The couple denied the accusations, claiming that problems stemmed from the fact that some of the neighbours wanted to buy their house.

Usman also said that some of the bad feeling was because several women fancied him and were bent on exacting revenge after he had rejected them.

He told Judge Thomas that the police and local authority were corrupt and a local mosque was pro-Taliban and "getting at him". Neighbours told the court Usman was no longer a Muslim.

Father-of-three Mohammed Khalil, 43, who lives opposite the house on the corner of Round Street and Challis Grove, gave evidence before the court.

He said afterwards: "I felt that justice had been done with the order but he is appealing against it, so we have to go back to court.

"The time I was most upset with him was when we were outside in the garden having a birthday party for one of my children.

"We were filming it and he came out with a video camera and started filming me and my children.

"I really got offended and went over but he called the police.

"His floodlights are pointing at our house on full range. When we go out at night they come on so he can see us. It makes us feel very angry."

Mr Khalil said that since the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US, Usman had put American and Union flags in his windows and made his teenage daughter and younger son wear flag bandannas.

Windows at the Usmans' home are covered with flags and some are boarded up.

The court order will prevent Usman from filming the neighbours and behaving badly towards them. He will also have to take down the floodlights.

Andrew Colley, 19, who lives opposite the Usman house with his family said: "It is right they have issued an order on them but I would rather they were off the street altogether.

"His wife often stood in the front windows giving him all-over body massages naked.

"There was constant fighting and arguments. Two of the families have moved away because of the problems. With the flags he seems to be trying to prove a point."

Announcing his verdict yesterday Judge Thomas said: "The Usmans clearly see themselves as victims of all this."

But he added: "The Usmans' evidence I reject as untruthful. Some of it is the product of a fevered imagination."

There was no evidence to support corruption or bribery and it was "nothing more than a vile slur on the individuals involved"

If they break the conditions of the order, which runs for an indefinite period, the Usmans could be fined or jailed.