A man carried out a violent and "vicious" attack on a pensioner amid a tense neighbour dispute regarding a fence.
Malcolm Scott jumped out of his van on March 14 this year and began punching his elderly neighbour, before pinning him to the floor and "raining blows" down on him. The 66-year-old then picked up a large stone and threatened his bloodied neighbour before the victim managed to grab hold of his wrist.
Durham Crown Court heard the attack was the culmination of a long standing grievance between the two neighbours concerning a fence. Scott, of Pontop Court, Stanley, appeared at the court on Tuesday to be sentenced for assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He had pleaded guilty to the charge at a previous hearing.
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Neil Jones, prosecuting, said the victim was reversing out of a driveway when Scott - who lived next door - drove past in a white van and "made eye contact" with him. Mr Jones said: "The van stopped quickly and the defendant was seen to pull the handbrake violently and get out of the van and ran towards the victim, who was petrified. The defendant began hitting him viciously to the face, raining down numerous blows. The victim fell backwards and banged his head on the floor."
He added: "He pinned him down and continued to rain down blows with blood running down the victim's face. The defendant then picked up a large stone and raised it above his head. The victim believed he was going to hit him with it and said it was down to pure luck that he managed to grab the defendant's wrist. The defendant then ran to his van."
The court heard the victim, who is in his 70s, sustained facial injuries and was taken to the University Hospital of North Durham. Mr Jones said Scott, who had no previous convictions, made "immediate admissions" to police and said he acted in "extreme provocation over some years".
The court was told that there had been issues between the neighbours that went as far back as 2006 and concerned "alterations to the landscape" and that matters "reached a degree of hostility" with fencing issues that had resulted in solicitor letters. In a victim statement, the victim said he feared Scott was going to kill him during the incident.
Scott, who appeared at the court unrepresented, was said to have "shown remorse" and was a "hard working man". Judge James Adkin, the Recorder of Durham, said that the incident stemmed from a "build up of tension between neighbours" and handed Scott a four month curfew between 7pm and 7am. Scott must also pay £750 compensation within six months and was given a restraining order, banning contact with the victim.
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