A disc jockey who made his neighbours' lives a misery by blasting loud music from his flat has been fined by magistrates.

Ryan Rule, of Richard Gray Court, Osney Lane, Oxford, was handed a noise abatement notice in March, 2007 after neighbours complained about his music.

And today he was ordered to pay £265 at Oxford Magistrates' Court after admitting breaching the order and causing a "statutory nuisance" by continuing to play loud music from his flat.

Helen Lynch, prosecuting for Oxford City Council, told the court an environmental health officer was called to the flats in the early hours of February 4 this year after complaints were received from neighbours about his music.

She said: "She visited the complainant at about 1.10am. On her arrival the music was audible at a low level, but within several minutes amplified music was clearly audible despite both doors and windows being closed.

"The bass was particularly intrusive in the living room and bedroom."

Miss Lynch said the council had reported four other breaches of the order, but this was the first one to reach court.

She said some of Rule's music equipment had been seized by council officers, but they were currently making arrangements for it to be returned.

Mr Rule, defending himself, said: "I am deeply sorry for causing all that aggravation. I regret doing it now.

"I was doing an online music technology course and due to all my stuff being taken away I cannot do my course. All my records have gone as well, which means I could not start doing a disc jockey job, so that put me out of work."

Rule told the court he was currently unemployed and receiving disability living allowance and housing benefit.

Addressing the magistrates, he said: "If I can start DJ-ing again then I can get off benefits.

"Please will you give me back my stuff? I also suffer from bipolar disorder and without music it puts me on a low ebb."

Rule was fined £150 and ordered to pay £100 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

Chairman of the bench Douglas Diss said: "When the officer went round, that was presumably the final straw."

Speaking after the case, a neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: "The noise started at 9am and went on until 5am. It was very bad - just like a disco.

"Sometimes I could not sleep because he had many visitors."