An "out of control" woman slammed a window shut on her neighbour's arm after months of "hell", a court heard.
Joanne Fowler and Susan Edwards had been neighbours on Terminus Drive in Bromborough for around 25 years on an "amicable" basis, but things soon took a turn around June 27, 2021 when their relationship soured. This led to the once friendly neighbours no longer being on "speaking terms".
Appearing at Sefton Magistrates Court on Wednesday, Susan Edwards, 64, who previously pleaded not guilty to assaulting Mrs Fowler, told how she had put up a type of garden trellis to prevent her neighbours from "filming and stalking her" after what she said was "months of harassment." However this trellis, held up with cable ties, prevented the Fowlers' window from opening fully.
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Concerned this was a fire hazard, Joanne Fowler and her husband Lee sought advice from the fire service, then asked police officers to assist them in removing the trellis on November 21, 2021. But this led to a "commotion" which included "shouting and screaming" and Mrs Fowler's arm being "slammed" in the window.
Prosecuting, Paula Grogan, said Edwards knew the trellis obstructed the window but "did it anyway". She added the Fowlers sought advice from emergency services to avoid confrontation as she said they knew they could not "ask politely" as they would get "screamed and shouted at".
The court heard how officers were called to assist to avoid a breach of the peace, but giving evidence on Wednesday, Edwards said she was not told why the police were there or what they wanted, and instead, Mr Fowler was on her property with "sharp cutters", which he would later use to cut the obstruction, "inches from her face".
She said she called police after verbal abuse from the Fowlers earlier that day and was unaware they had too called police on her to remove the obstruction. She added if she had been approached about the problem she would have removed it "willingly and voluntarily."
Addressing the Magistrates bench, Ms Grogan said Edwards "knew full well" Mrs Fowler was behind the window and was already irate due to the "history" and seeing Mr Fowler on her property with a PCSO. She added Edwards was "shouting the odds" and "wasn't prepared to listen to anybody."
The prosecution added Edwards was "so angry and out of control" that she was "lashing out" on that evening and "lost your temper". She added Edwards could have moved out of the way of the window but instead, "reacted anyway".
Defending, Paul Ford said Edwards was "more likely to tell the truth than not" and had been "continuously harassed by the Fowlers". He suggested Edwards did not see Mrs Fowler's arm out the window as it was "dark and security lights were on high wattage." Addressing the bench, he added this was a "one off incident" and she has since made several complaints to police about later incidents.
He told the bench she has been "doing everything she can to keep away from the premises" but added it was "her home at the end of the day." Mr Ford said her life had been "hell as a result".
Giving evidence on Wednesday, Joanne Fowler described how her husband had gone to remove the trellis with an officer on Edwards' property. She said she had to put her arm through the window in order to cut the cable ties but when the window was "slammed against her arm", it led to damage including swelling, bruising and a numb hand.
However, Edwards said she kept shutting the window due to it being pushed against her back "causing a great deal of pain".
Defence counsel Mr Ford said to Mrs Fowler: "I suggest the reason you called police to attend and got yourself involved was to try to create a situation to get Mrs Edwards before the court of law," a suggestion which Mrs Fowler denied.
Also giving evidence, her husband Lee Fowler told how he went to Edwards' property with police with the intention of removing the obstruction and heard his wife "screaming in pain".
The court also heard how once arrested, Edwards continued to be "irate" and was handcuffed and placed into the back of a police van as officers were "not able to make any sort of rational point". But Edwards told how she was refused access to the toilet and due to health issues would've been in a great deal of pain.
When interviewed by police, she told officers she was in the process of legal action against the Fowlers after months of harassment and at "no point" was she asked to take this trellis down by her neighbours or the fire service. Edwards said: “I’m not a lady of bad character, I’ve been pushed and pushed and pushed.”
The Magistrates bench found Edwards guilty of assault. Giving a conditional discharge, Edwards was urged to be on her “best behaviour” for six months and also ordered to pay £200 towards prosecution costs. She was also ordered to pay £100 in compensation and a victim surcharge of £22. The bench added a restraining order was “inappropriate and unenforceable”.
