Pensioner Colin Proud was subjected to years of noise from his neighbour's flat, a court heard. And in August last year he confronted his neighbour with a large kitchen knife and stabbed him in the forehead and back.
Proud, 70, of Berchel House in Catherine Mead Street, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and possessing an offensive weapon. He appeared from HMP Bristol via video link for sentence at Bristol Crown Court today.(March 10, 2023)
The recorder Mr Oba Nsugbe jailed him for three years. He told Proud: "You are aged 70, you had a long working career, good relationship, which makes the offences all the more bizarre. It could have resulted in far more serious injuries to the victim."
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The recorder ordered that the knife be destroyed. He handed Proud a five-year restraining order which included a ban from going to Berchel House, from where he is in the process of being evicted.
Edward Hollingsworth, prosecuting, said Proud pushed a note through his upstairs neighbour's door complaining about noise, which kept him awake. The court heard Proud went on to verbally abuse his neighbour, telling him: "Don't worry, you'll get yours."
Mr Hollingsworth said it was in August 2022 the complainant went to the ground floor of Berchel House, via the stairwell. He then encountered Proud.
Mr Hollingsworth said: "He was stood there with a knife over his head. He said: 'I'll get you now you f****** b-----d'."
With that Proud stabbed the victim to his head, pushed him the ground, kicked him and stabbed him in the back. The victim managed to get outside with blood pouring down his face.
Mr Hollingsworth told the court: "Mr Proud followed him around cars, waving the knife all the time. He said he had ruined his life, he said he couldn't see his grandchildren and daughter. He said he didn't care if he went to prison, he would kill him."
The court heard the complainant managed to phone a friend, who arrived on the scene and found the complainant propped against a car. Proud said his victim had fallen over after trying to stab him.
Police arrived on the scene and arrested Proud. He made no comment when interviewed.
'He's repeated again and again he's sorry'
Charley Pattison, defending, said: "The more sleep Mr Proud lost the more focused he became on (the complainant)." She said her client had kept a journal about the disturbance, written to Bristol City Council and complained to police, all to no avail.
She said: "There is plainly remorse. He's repeated again and again he's sorry.
"He says 'It's not me what I've done, I don't believe that happened'. He's extremely sorry."
Miss Pattison said her client had attended his GP for depression and was suffering from mental health problems at the time.
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