Pensioner, 83, who was jailed for playing Classic FM too loud in his home dies in prison 

Pensioner, 83, who was jailed for playing Classic FM too loud in his home dies in prison

  • Ian Trainer, 83, was jailed for playing Classic FM too loud at his home in Aintree 
  • The OAP had previously been sent to prison for the same offence but continued
  • He is confirmed to have died in hospital on November 23 while serving sentence 

An 83-year-old man who was jailed for playing Classic FM too loud in his home has died in prison.  

Ian Trainer, who had been repeatedly jailed in recent years, died in hospital on November 23.

The pensioner, from Eton Drive, Aintree, Merseyside, was given a restraining order in 2019 which prohibited him from playing – between the hours of 9am and 10pm – ‘any audio at a volume above normal talking level’ which was considered to be above 65 decibels.

Ian Trainer, 83, had been repeatedly jailed in recent years and was serving his most recent sentence before his death in hospital on November 23

However despite having previously been jailed for the same offence, on his release from a short sentence handed down in February, Trainer continued to play loud music and he was returned to custody a short time later.

The MOJ confirmed Trainer had died and a Prison Service spokesman said: ‘HMP Liverpool prisoner Ian Trainer died in hospital on 23 November.

‘The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has been informed.’

The spokesman did not confirm the cause of Trainer’s death and said it was a matter for the coroner.

At a hearing in February, Liverpool Magistrates Court heard how Trainer’s neighbour, Thomas Michael Thompson, had experienced ‘noise pollution’ from his neighbour’s property for a number of years.

On Tuesday, December 17, 2019, a police officer attended Trainer’s property after being called out for a complaint of noise by Mr Thompson.

The pensioner, from Eton Drive, Aintree, Merseyside, (pictured) was given a restraining order in 2019 which prohibited him from playing between the hours of 9am and 10pm

The pensioner, from Eton Drive, Aintree, Merseyside, (pictured) was given a restraining order in 2019 which prohibited him from playing between the hours of 9am and 10pm

However the court heard, when the officer arrested him on suspicion of breaching a condition of a restraining order, Trainer told the officer ‘I like playing music at a level I enjoy.’ 

The court also heard Trainer had been suffering from a bad cold and was unable to hear out of one ear and was unable to wear earphones due to being on steroids for a medical condition, The Liverpool Echo reported earlier this year.  

The news of Mr Trainer’s death has been met with anger across the city.

Sasha Iddon said: ‘This poor man should have been treated for his ears or his mental health looked at as to why he kept on breaching the restrictions.’

Jeanette Buhagiar said: ‘Absolutely disgraceful to jail a pensioner for playing loud music as he is deaf, may you hang your heads in shame over this. Surely he should have been helped not jailed.’

Despite having previously been jailed for the same offence Trainer continued to play loud music and he was returned to custody a short time later. Pictured: Liverpool Magistrates Court

Despite having previously been jailed for the same offence Trainer continued to play loud music and he was returned to custody a short time later. Pictured: Liverpool Magistrates Court

Jennifer Tyrrell said: ‘What a shame. Poor man was probably just reliving memories. Real criminals on the streets roaming free that need locking up.’

Lisa Holmes said: ‘This is heart breaking.’

However some felt that the courts had been left with no option but to jail Mr Trainer.

Ryan O’Hanlon said: ‘Just because he was 83 doesn’t excuse him from being ignorant. He was a repeat offender and continually ignored the courts and the police. Are people meant to live with music blaring all day and night next to them and brush it off. ‘

Irene Preston said: ‘This didn’t happen just recently. This had been going on for years and he wasn’t interested in changing.

‘Yes it is sad that be has died but the solution was in his own hands and he refused to change.’