Two nightmare neighbours left a couple with injuries after attacking them with a kitchen knife and ammonia amid a long-standing dispute.
Amanda Timney, 37, and Gary Hill, 41, caused damage to their neighbours' cars in Easington Colliery shortly before a confrontation occurred between them on October 28, last year. During the disturbance, Timney armed herself with a large knife before striking out at her female neighbour and hitting her in the head and causing a laceration. Hill armed himself with a bottle of household ammonia and splashed it in the face and eyes of the male neighbour.
Timney, of Barwick Street, Easington Colliery, and Hill, of North View, Sherburn, appeared at Durham Crown Court on Wednesday to be sentenced for criminal damage. Timney, who appeared via link from HMP Low Newton, was also sentenced for possession of a knife and wounding, with Hill, appearing via link from HMP Durham, also being sentenced for section 47 assault.
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Stephen Littlewood, prosecuting, said both defendants are in a relationship and were the neighbours of the two complainants, who lived across the street from them. He said: "There was substantial animosity between the two over money that was said to have been owed over a petrol payment." Mr Littlewood told the court that the word "scumbag" had also been spray painted on a vehicle outside of their property.
The court heard that both complainants were at home with their young child when they heard a commotion on the street. The defendants were outside, screaming, with Timney being armed with a brick in her hand. She then went on to smash the windscreen of the woman's Ford Focus. Hill also smashed the side window of the man's Skoda Octavia. Mr Littlewood, said: "Upon realising what was happening, the complainants ran outside with their child and other people in the street became involved." Timney who had armed herself with a kitchen knife, struck out with it, hitting the female neighbour in the head causing a laceration which later required a staple at hospital.
After sustaining the injury, the woman "retaliated", which caused Timney to fall to the floor. The knife was then wrestled from her as others began assaulting her. As this was going on, the male neighbour had armed himself with a golf club and chased Hill back to his home before smashing a window with it. But while inside his home, Hill armed himself with a bottle of household ammonia and returned. Mr Littlewood said: "He splashed the man's face and eyes with the ammonia and he went to hospital where the area was washed." In a victim statement, the male neighbour said the ammonia attack could have been "life changing" but fortunately no long lasting harm was done.
The court was told Timney had 22 previous convictions for 45 offences, including battery in 2021, and was serving a community order for that offence at the time. Hill had 78 previous convictions for 166 offences, including a racially aggravated offence in 2000. He was also serving a community order at the time for burglary.
Michael Cahill, defending Hill, said: "The complainant armed himself with a golf club as the defendant was walking away from the incident. A melee ensued at the doorway of the defendant's property. The context in which he used the ammonia was that he was faced with someone armed with a golf club, there's an element of excessive self defence." He said that Hill was also "motivated to live a drug free lifestyle" and had since moved away from Easington. Mr Cahill added: "He understands the way he behaved was unacceptable."
Mark Styles, defending Timney, said she was "terrified by what happened". He said: "She was in a highly anxious state and armed herself only in self defence. She was knocked to the ground and set upon by three individuals and she received facial injuries."
Sentencing the pair, Judge Ray Singh, granted a five year restraining order banning them from contacting the complainants. Timney was jailed for 19 months and Hill was jailed for 14 months.
