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Pensioner guilty of spade attack | Pensioner guilty of spade attack |
(20 minutes later) | |
A 72-year-old woman has been convicted of assault after attacking her neighbour with a spade over a long-running boundary dispute. | A 72-year-old woman has been convicted of assault after attacking her neighbour with a spade over a long-running boundary dispute. |
June Iddon struck Jeffrey Grundy "like an axeman" after claiming he had no right to move a fence next to her home, Preston Crown Court heard. | June Iddon struck Jeffrey Grundy "like an axeman" after claiming he had no right to move a fence next to her home, Preston Crown Court heard. |
The 61-year-old's arm was broken and he was in plaster for three months after the attack in Tarleton, Lancashire. | The 61-year-old's arm was broken and he was in plaster for three months after the attack in Tarleton, Lancashire. |
Iddon, of Hesketh Lane, was found guilty of causing actual bodily harm. | Iddon, of Hesketh Lane, was found guilty of causing actual bodily harm. |
The court heard that in October 2007 Mr Grundy won a High Court judgment in his favour in their four-year boundary dispute. | |
Prosecutors said Miss Grundy was unable to accept the decision and launched her attack when a contractor turned up on 14 November. | |
In a way I feel sorry for her Jeffrey Grundy, victim | |
Mr Grundy had invited David Broadley for a quote to reposition a fence in accordance with the judge's ruling. | |
Iddon was in her front garden weeding when she began acting in an "aggressive and abusive manner" and assaulted Mr Grundy. | |
She told the court that her victim and his daughter ran towards her and that she blacked out. She said she did not know how Mr Grundy broke his arm. | |
Mrs Doran, Mr Grundy's daughter, claimed Iddon - whose barrister said was "built like a sparrow" - had "the strength of 10 men". | |
The jury was told she was convicted of battery five months ago for attacking Mr David Broadley, who also gave evidence for the prosecution, in December 2007. | |
Speaking outside the court, Mr Grundy said Iddon had made his family's life "a living hell". | |
Driveway dispute | |
He said the problems started when he bought the house for his daughter in between his property and Iddon's home. | |
The pensioner disputed their right of access to a driveway which leads to a garage, and erected metal posts preventing vehicle access, Mr Grundy said. | |
He said his driveway had since been reinstated but that a fence he erected, in accordance with the High Court ruling, was now being disputed by Iddon. | |
Mr Grundy said: "It's very difficult at home. I've always said if you have a problem at work you can go home and forget about it but at home it's very difficult. | |
"I'm pleased with the verdict. It's been a very sad case altogether. The High Court judge also said it was a very sad case. | |
"I think she's just a spinster and she's a sad person, I think that sums it up. In a way I feel sorry for her. | |
"She's a sad individual. She's no other interests, she has very few friends, it's a sad existence. I'd just like to get on with my life now and enjoy my family." | |
Iddon was cleared of the more serious charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm. | Iddon was cleared of the more serious charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm. |
She was released on bail by the court on Friday and will be sentenced on 20 October. |