Is that a Living Doll? Man calls police after neighbour puts cardboard cut-out of grinning Cliff Richard in the window overlooking his dining room

  • James Maltby called police after the image of Sir Cliff appeared in window
  • He described the cardboard cut-out of the pop star in Brighton as 'creepy'
  • Also reported neighbour to council over allegations of planning breaches
  • Sussex Police told Mr Maltby that displaying the picture was not an offence

A man called police to report his neighbour after a cardboard cut-out of a grinning Sir Cliff Richard appeared in the window overlooking his dining room.

James Maltby said the image of the pop star which appeared in his neighbour's window was 'creepy' but said police had told him they could not do anything about the picture.

Mr Maltby said he believes the cardboard cut-out was put in the window of design company Creative 360 in Brighton, East Sussex, in retaliation.

James Maltby said the image of pop star Sir Cliff Richard (pictured) which appeared in his neighbour's window was 'creepy' but said Sussex Police had told him they could not do anything about the picture

James Maltby said the image of pop star Sir Cliff Richard (pictured) which appeared in his neighbour's window was 'creepy' but said Sussex Police had told him they could not do anything about the picture

He claims James Dean, creative director of the firm, wanted to get back at him, after Mr Maltby contacted the council over allegations he was breaching planning rules.

Mr Maltby said: 'I woke up and he had stuck a picture in his window of a face of Cliff Richard looking down at us.

'I called the police and they said there was nothing they can do about it.

'It is a creepy image. I think he is trying to send us a message saying he knows it is us.'

Mr Dean said he was 'surprised to find myself amidst a most bizarre misunderstanding' and said the image was put up by a 'comrade' as a 'comical greeting'.

He works in the building at Creative 360 and denied Mr Maltby's claims that he was living there, suggesting he often worked 'long hours and nocturnal shifts'.

Mr Maltby said he believes James Dean, creative director of firm Creative 360, wanted to get back at him after he contacted the council over allegations Mr Dean was breaching planning rules - something he denies

Mr Maltby said he believes James Dean, creative director of firm Creative 360, wanted to get back at him after he contacted the council over allegations Mr Dean was breaching planning rules - something he denies

He added that since hearing of Mr Maltby's objection he had taken the photo down, and 'would like to apologise for any offence caused'.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: 'Police received a report that a man had put up a picture of Cliff Richard in a window facing the informant's garden.

'Officers spoke to the informant but informed him that displaying the picture was not an offence.

'The informant was encouraged to speak to the owner of the building to resolve the issue.'

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: 'Our planning enforcement team has been contacted [about the building] and they are investigating whether a change of use has taken place.' 

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