Dad slams ‘Karen' who reported him to council for hosting casino party for son's birthday – despite it finishing by 7pm
Jamie Obrien set up a roulette wheel, fake money and a speaker system so his son Cain could celebrate his birthday with 11 friends at their home late last month.
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The 58-year-old says he played music from a speaker outside the family's back door from 4.30-6pm at a "loud but reasonable" volume.
But last Tuesday, an environmental health worker from Fareham Borough Council, Hampshire, called to explain that a neighbour had complained about the noise.
Jamie took to his Facebook community group later that morning to brand the mystery complainant a "Karen" before calling for them to "grow some balls" and "get a life".
The full-time carer says there are more than 40 flats or semi-detached homes in his close and the neighbouring street, which includes many "elderly" residents.
He insists the "whirlwind little party" was finished by 7pm and that it was "pathetic" to call the council instead of explaining their annoyance in person.
However Facebook users had split opinions, with some calling the neighbour "sour" and "pathetic" and others calling Jamie a "neighbour from hell" who should stop believing he's "always right".
The dad-of-three is sharing the story to discourage people from sending what he deems "pathetic" noise complaints as families enjoy the summer sun.
Jamie, from Fareham, Hampshire, said: "It was quite a whirlwind little party. It was casino-themed and I was the head of the roulette wheel with fake money and card games.
"I brought the speaker system down from Cain's bedroom, put it in the utility room that backs onto the back garden and put one of the speakers just outside the back door.
"I put the tunes on from 4.30pm and it was loud but it wasn't full blast - it could have gone a lot louder. I thought it was loud but reasonable.
"I'm an old-school raver from back in the day. I put one of my rave CDs but within 20 minutes they'd switched to teenager music, which is all grime and drum and bass.
"Within an hour the volume of that went right down because they were congregating in groups and having chats more than anything. By 6pm the music had been turned off.
"We've lived here for five years now and it's the first time the stereo has been an issue. We had a disco dome in the garden with music pumping from it last year.
"If I had a problem with something the only way to address it is head-on and be civil.
"It would have looked pathetic but it's even more pathetic that he's had to bring it up [with the council].
"It's annoying but deep down it makes me laugh because I see it as a form of jealousy.
"God forbid anyone enjoy themselves and have a good time."
Jamie, lives with wife Tammy Obrien, 39, and their three children Cain, Mia, 20, and Kurt, 11.
He claims the council worker sided with him on the call and insists people should explain what the issue is if they make a complaint.
Jamie said: "I took the call from environmental health and they said the noise complaint had been raised over the volume of our music.
"I explained we had the party from 4-7 and it was probably on for an hour tops and she told me 'that's absolutely fine. Even I have a party once in a while. Everyone's entitled to have a party'.
Woman locked in bitter neighbour war over pet PIG who lives in garden, eats Sunday roasts & loudly SNORES all day long
A COUPLE are locked in a bitter row over their "smelly
Michelle and Carl Repper were shocked to receive a complaint from their neighbour over the noise and odour of their six-year-old Juliana pot-bellied pig.
The couple adopted Jack six years ago after their friends mistook him for a micro pig, and have raised the boar in their garden ever since.
Michelle, 44, says everyone in the neighbourhood loves little Jack and was shocked when one neighbour allegedly shouted through the fence to say the pig was "disgusting".
Another local said Jack is making their life in the area "unbearable".
The mum-of-three also received a letter from South Holland District Council outlining an odour and nuisance complaint over their much-loved piggy.
But Michelle claims Jack is the "cleanest animal" and sleeps quietly for up to six hours a day in the garden - and says all he does is "snore".
Michelle, a teaching assistant, said the family would be "devastated" if they were forced to rehome Jack, insisting that they would "put up a fight" if the complaint escalated.
The council confirmed they had visited the pig twice and observed no issues however said the owner had "taken steps to reduce the noise levels".
"I asked her to tell whoever it is to grow a pair and knock on my door the next time, but she said she can't put it like that.
"She said she'd make them aware it was a birthday party and there's no foundation for the complaint.
"If you've got a baby that's trying to sleep or you've worked a night shift, be logical, explain yourself and then we can all get on.
"I'd apologise if I offended anybody because my music was that bad or that loud but it genuinely wasn't and that's why they haven't knocked on the door. It's just a problem neighbour.
"Our house is on an elderly residential plot. There's 44 flats and our house in the close but we've got a really good rapport with all the elderly residents."
Jamie says he's not been put off hosting a party at the house in future and would hire a venue if he planned it to run late into the night.
His post said: "On Saturday April 26 I had a birthday party for my son and he had a small group of friends attend our home,
"Today I received a phone call from environmental health after a noise complaint was made about the music!
"Firstly the party was from 4-7pm and as for the music it was probably fairly loud for about an hour tops!
"I would just like to reach out to Karen and advise them to grow a pair and come knock my door in future or just to basically get a life of their own instead of hiding behind phones and computers!
"This was the first noise complaint in five years of living here as we never really have parties."
One commented: "I hope your son had the best party ever. Too many sour people these days!"
A second said: "Some people need to get a life. What a pathetic thing to do. Music loud at 7pm wow."
A third said: "What sound in the whole world could possibly be more wonderful than children enjoying themselves to music?
"Shame on the miserable soul who couldn't appreciate that sound."
However one said: "Quite simple. Turn it down and stop being the 'I'm always right' neighbour from hell."
Another said: "Isn't it ironic that you are complaining about Karen not knocking on the door and hiding behind phones and computers and then instead of knocking on their door you put up this post."
Jamie replied: "Haha you're funny but not in a funny way. 'Neighbour from hell' please, maybe 20 years ago I would have been."
Fareham Borough Council said environmental health officers assess noise by taking into account a range of factors such as frequency, time of day/night, background noise levels and volume so it is unlikely they would take any action for one-off parties.
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