A victory for the rights of musical prodigies in Spain.

A Spanish court has acquitted a concert pianist of charges of noise pollution and causing psychological damage to a neighbour.

Prosecutors were seeking a prison sentence of seven years against Laia Martin after a neighbour complained she practiced eight hours a day, five days a week.

Sonia Bonsom claimed the noise made her hate pianos so much she couldn’t even watch a movie if it featured the instrument.

The severity of the possible prison sentence brought such international ridicule that prosecutors reduced their demand from seven years to 20 months. But the court ruled that the neighbour’s claims were exaggerated and unreliable, and Laia Martin is free to continue practicing.