Shropshire neighbour row man tear-gassed by police
A feud between neighbours that spanned more than 20 years came to a head with police tear-gassing a man who came at them wielding a hammer, a court heard.
A drunken Paul Evans had made threats to decapitate his neighbours as they walked by his caravan on April 7, said prosecutor Jenny Winzor.
The court was told Evans often took to shouting at them or playing loud music from his caravan when they came home.
Ms Winzor said the neighbours in Prees Heath, near Whitchurch, had had a long-running feud ever since Evans had been involved in an altercation with their son 20 years earlier. After hearing the insults they called the police who had to bang loudly on Evans' caravan to be heard.
Ms Winzor said Evans, 43, had come out carrying a hammer and, after refusing to set it down, had been tear-gassed and restrained. Evans had pleaded guilty to one charge of using threatening words and behaviour on the officers, but was found guilty after a trial on a similar charge against his neighbours.
Mr Chris Grainger, for Evans, told Telford Magistrates Court, that talk of a 21-year row was exaggerated, as the defendant had only moved back to the property two years ago after 17 years. He said Evans had been drinking heavily on the night as he had toothache and could not remember hurling abuse, although he accepted he had.
Evans was given a 12-month community order with 40 days of rehabilitation activity and a six-month alcohol treatment programme and 80 hours of unpaid work. He was ordered to pay £400 prosecution costs, and a £60 victim surcharge.
Mr Grainger said his client was genuinely remorseful.
