London party peer faces charges

July 12, 2010

Flamboyant entrepreneur Lord Edward Davenport, 43, has appeared in court following a series of glittering parties he held at his home for celebrity guests including Cher and Naomi Campbell.

Neighbours complained about the 'booming' music coming from Davenport's £30 million, 100-room home, which is the former Sierra Leone High Commission. It was said to be so loud that the floors and walls were vibrating.

Locals phoned Westminster Council in desperation as there was "no way they could have had any sleep." Environmental health officers reported arriving at the home to find people lying in the street while 'heavy bass' pumped out.

A noise abatement order was served to Davenport in May 2008. Since then, he is charged with breaking the order twice, once with a London party for the student union of Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and again with the Christmas party for advertising company Saatchi and Saatchi.

Environmental health officer Patrick Bangura visited again and said he could hear the music from 80 metres away. "Neighbours' walls were vibrating due to the music from the Christmas party," he added. He said, "The noise I heard, the vibrations, I made a judgement that the noise was loud enough to interrupt or stop somebody's sleep."

Last week, City of Westminster Magistrates' Court heard Davenport was first visited by environmental health officers from Westminster City Council in April 2008, when he was holding a 'house party' at his home. The officers left with 'assurances' he would deal with the problem.

He faces a £5,000 fine if found guilty of breaching the order by District Judge Quentin Purdy.