A man who fumed over car parking accused his neighbour of having smelly breath the day before posting toothpaste and a toothbrush through his letterbox, a court has heard. Steven Wright subjected Colin Jones to a series of harassment from October 2019 to April 2021 while the pair were neighbours in Handforth, near Stockport.
The 38-year-old's anger towards Mr Jones began with a 'strongly-worded' note on his neighbour's car, warning him 'don't f****** park here again'. But the court heard events soon escalated - with Wright suspected of damaging cars belonging to Mr Jones' relatives and a CCTV camera installed because of the row.
Wright appeared at Crewe Magistrates' Court on Tuesday (March 29), pleading guilty to harassment without violence, Cheshire Live reports. The incidents all took place at Hampson Crescent, where Wright still lives.
According to prosecutor Simon Leong, Mr Jones would 'often find scratches' on cars belonging to his relatives after the initial parking note, and he suspected Wright was to blame. He 'verbally confronted' Wright about it on February 2020, who denied it before a 'verbal confrontation' ensued.
Mr Leong said: "The defendant used a clenched fist to push into the chin of Mr Jones. The complainant said that it did not hurt him or cause him any injury.
"The defendant went on to say that Mr Jones' breath smelled and words were exchanged. The following day, in a spiteful act of retaliation, the defendant posted through the letterbox a toothbrush and toothpaste to mock the complainant further."
The court heard Mr Jones then installed a camera inside his ground floor flat, which Mr Leong said was pointed at the window to film the outside the property. The prosecutor said the complainant decided to do this as a result of the alleged damage to the vehicles.
In April 2021, Wright got a 'large sheet of opaque plastic' and covered up part of Mr Jones' window. Mr Leong said this was done to prevent the camera from filming outside.
Wright was then reported to the police by Mr Jones, who would later move out of the address. Mr Leong read out a victim statement from Mr Jones, which said the issues caused him a 'great deal of anxiety'.
Mr Leong added: "He describes how he believes the defendant was responsible for a number of damages and that he has suffered a great deal of stress. His quality of life changed massively as a result of the defendant's behaviour.
"He had to move from the address. Obviously it cost him money to move house. He suffered financial loss in relation to installing CCTV as well as moving address. As a result of all these points he became increasingly concerned about the defendant's behaviour."
Wright pleaded guilty during Tuesday's hearing but, as part of the basis of his plea, continues to deny damaging the vehicles. Sam Fixter, defending, said there was 'no evidence' for the accusation 'apart from assumptions being made'.
Mr Fixter said: "I don't want to speak disparagingly of where it is. It's a social housing estate, things happen to vehicles wherever you park them."
He continued: "While it is a long period of time, you will see that it is a very small number of incidents. There's not much in it really - it started with an argument over a parking space.
"It's probably something that happens a lot in blocks of flats - people park somewhere and notes get left on windscreens. It happens. The note was strongly worded and he apologised the next day.
"But that was what the crown says started the course of conduct. There was then an argument over the note and then further things, including leaving the toothpaste on Mr Jones' doorstep."
Mr Fixter said Mr Jones' CCTV camera was filming a 'garden area' which belonged to Wright. He said the defendant 'didn't feel it was right' and 'took matters into his own hands' when he placed the plastic over the window.
Mr Fixter added: "It was a long time ago and there have been no issues with anybody else. He is a landscaper by trade so he assists his neighbours with maintaining the area. So it seems to have been a clash of personalities.
"This isn't a course of conduct that happened day after day after day. It's a few incidents over a very long period."
Magistrates fined Wright £160, ordered him to pay compensation of £250 as well as costs of £250 and a victim surcharge of £34, adding up to a total of £694. A 12-month restraining order has also been granted forbidding Wright from contacting Mr Jones.
