10 January 2024 , 13:15
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Warring neighbours were caught on camera coming to blows over gardening tools - one attacking the other with a pair of secateurs - as a court was told "it's fair to say they're not friends".
Dean Nicholas hurled the handheld shears at Paul Benton after a row outside their homes turned violent. Mobile phone footage captured by another resident shows Mr Benton clutching his head while 51-year-old Nicholas screams abuse at him. Nicholas can be seen holding a pair of shears and a pair of handheld secateurs as he berates his neighbour in the street.
He yells at Mr Benton: "F**k you man. You're f**king mad. You're f**king mad." Mr Benton tells him: "Calm down. I can't believe you've just done that." Nicholas then marches back to his front door before turning to shout further abuse at Mr Benton. He tells him: "You came out here f**king with that thing (points to gardening tool). You almost gave me a f**king heart attack man." Mr Nicholas replies: "I was taking it into my back garden."
Nicholas attacked Mr Benton outside their homes in the quiet cul-de-sac of Ashby Close, Burton Latimer, Northants. A court heard the supermarket worker flipped while Mr Benton was sitting in his garden on July 13, 2021.
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.
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"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."
One man can be seen holding his head (East Midlands CPS / SWNS)
The neighbours went back home (East Midlands CPS / SWNS)The victim was left with a gash to his head that had to be glued back together at Kettering General Hospital. Nicholas denied actual bodily harm but was found guilty following a trial at Northampton Crown Court. Siobhan Cawkwell, defending, said: "It's fair to say they're not friends but there've been no further incidents."
Judge Rupert Mayo said he believed there was a "good chance" of rehabilitation and sentenced Nicholas to 45 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay Mr Benton £280 in compensation at a rate of £40 per month. Nicholas has a previous caution from four years ago for criminal damage and possession of cannabis.