During a hearing at the Downing Centre Local Court today, Mr Ferguson indicated that he would like to move back to Ryde, despite having a five-year lease on a property in an undisclosed suburb.

The AVO application was taken out against resident Sean Killgallon, who had erected a sign outside Mr Ferguson's home calling him a pedophile and delivered a timber box in the shape of a coffin to Mr Ferguson's front door.

Mr Ferguson had told media that the only way the local community could remove him from his Ryde home was in a pine box.

Giving evidence in court today, Mr Killgallon denied the pine box was a threat and that he had any ill feeling towards Mr Ferguson.

But the acting magistrate Andrew George dismissed Mr Killgallon's claims, saying he was not convinced that Mr Killgallon would not incite further unrest against Mr Ferguson.

"His actions are inappropriate because they represent a willingness to ignore the normal community standards in respect of responsible behaviour," the magistrate said.

"He may feel that because of the defendant's past he is justified in ... inciting people to run him out of town but in no sense is that recognised as reasonable behaviour in our community where the rule of law still applies."

The AVO applies for two years and means that Mr Killgallon must not stalk, intimate or harass Mr Ferguson.