text: A Neighbourhood Watch official has been handed a restraining order following a bitter row with his neighbours over a garden gate. Married couple John and Karen Copleston claim Paul Phillips, 67, 'constantly harassed' them over a petty dispute after they moved a gate at the back of their £210,000 house in Poole, Dorset. Retired Mr Phillips, the treasurer of the local Neighbourhood Watch scheme, accused the Coplestons of putting the garden gate up on communal land and took the matter to council planners. Scroll down for video . Married couple John and Karen Copleston said neighbour Paul Phillips, 67, had constantly harassed them over a petty dispute after they moved a gate at the back of their £210,000 house in Poole, Dorset . When the couple challenged him they say claim embarked on a campaign of misery that forced the Coplestons to install CCTV cameras to catch him in action. The covert footage caught Mr Phillips fiddling with the gate's lock, waving and smiling at the camera and repeatedly setting off a motion sensor. But on Friday the case against Mr Phillips was dismissed, although a three-year restraining order was imposed on him under the Protection from Harassment Act by magistrates in Bournemouth. The long-running dispute between the neighbours began three years ago and a year ago the row became centred on the gate at the end of a shared passage both houses back on to. Karen and John Copleston (pictured) outside their property - Mr Phillips' home is on the far right . The gate in question: Mr Phillips accused the Coplestons of putting the garden gate up on his land . The Coplestons claim the gate has been at the end of the shared path since they bought the property in 1987. After taking advice from police they moved the gate to halfway down the path where it provides access onto their property - but is also directly next to Mr Phillips garden gate. Mr Phillips, a former Poole council employee, argued the gate should not be there at all as it is in the shared easement. He said the previous gate had been a hazard as it was rusty and did not allow enough room for his wife's invalid buggy. Caught: Paul Phillips, 67, was captured on a covert camera as he repeatedly set off a motion sensor at night . Banned: Phillips was also seen smiling and waving at the camera as he embarked on a campaign of terror . Row: The long-running dispute between the neighbours began three years ago and a year ago the row became centred on the gate at the end of a shared passage both houses back on to . The Coplestons said he continued to complain and would stand outside the gate early in the morning and late at night. They said Mr Phillips even installed his own CCTV cameras on his property which he would use to watch them on a monitor in his bedroom. Mrs Copleston, 49, said: 'All I want to know is why? 'Why did he start this? Why did this happen to us? I don't understand why and that's what's very hard for me.' Mr Copleston, 53, added: 'It started off with something petty and it just got bigger and bigger. 'Luckily, our little camera picked up enough that we could take this to court. 'I don't use computers much myself, so it was always Karen by herself when she saw the footage of him at the gate. 'It's been frightening and very stressful for her and it's had a real effect on her health.' Prosecutor Timothy Sullivan said: 'The proceedings arose out of a long-running acrimonious dispute between neighbours. 'The prosecution says relations broke down as a result of the defendant's anti-social behaviour. 'The victim said she felt like a prisoner in her own home.' The Coplestons pictured with their gate - Mr Phillips' gate and garden are on the left . Pathway: Mr Phillips argued the gate (pictured) should not be there at all as it is in the shared easement . Speaking after the case, Mr Phillips said: 'Myself and my wife are now in the process of selling our home because of this dispute. 'It has been horrific for us. I'm delighted at this result - I couldn't stand another day worrying, 'What's going to happen next? 'I have been a law abiding citizen all my life and have no criminal convictions and have not been in any trouble with the police until this stupid charge was brought up. 'My wife Enid and I have already moved out of our home and into sheltered accommodation to escape the aggression we encountered regularly.' Neighbours: This aerial view shows the neighbouring houses in dispute at Nightjar Close in Poole, Dorset .
target: Neighbourhood Watch treasurer has been handed three-year restraining order banning him from contacting neighbours following row over gate .
  Paul Phillips said John and Karen Copleston moved gate on to his land .
  But they claim he harassed them over the dispute which ended up in court .
  Case against Mr Phillips was dismissed but restraining order was imposed .