Neighbours at war row after one attacks the other with secateurs
Shocking footage captures the moment two neighbours came to blows after one of them attacked the other with a pair of secateurs.
They were hurled by Dean Nicholas, 51, at neighbour Paul Benton, on July 13 2021 in Burton, Northamptonshire, Northampton Crown Court heard.
Mr Benton was left with a gash on his head which had to be glued back together at Kettering General Hospital.
In the footage taken by another neighbour, Mr Benton can be seen clutching his head in agony moments after the attack.
Nicholas screamed abuse at him and could also be seen holding a pair of shears.
He shouts at his neighbour: ‘F**k you man. You’re f**king mad. You’re f**king mad.’
Mr Benton tells him to calm down and says: ‘I can’t believe you’ve just done that.’
Nicholas marches to his front door and then yells: ‘You came out here f**king with that thing (points to gardening tool). You almost gave a f**king heart attack man.’
Prosecutor Jonathan Stone said: ‘Mr Benton noticed the defendant sitting in his car.
‘He beckoned him over. There have been some issues before that have angered the defendant.
‘The defendant went into his front door and picked up a large metal bar of about a metre in length.
‘He then picked up some secateurs and threw them at the complainant’s head. He was shouting at the complainant and accused him of attacking him.
‘The complainant was heard saying he just wanted to go back into his garden.’
Siobhan Cawkwell, defending, said: ‘It’s fair to say they’re not friends but there’ve been no further incidents.’
Nicholas denied actual bodily harm but was found guilty.
The judge sentenced Nicholas to 45 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months and was ordered to pay Mr Benton £280 in compensation at a rate of £40 per month.
Nicholas has a previous caution for criminal damage and possession of cannabis four years ago.
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