Raging neighbour's knife terror after kid's football lands on conservatory
ANGRY Peter Bowers lunged towards his neighbour with a knife after a child's football landed on his conservatory roof.
Amanda Shenton thought the 49-year-old was going to stab her when he flew into a rage, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard yesterday.
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SCENE: Thames Drive in Biddulph.
After the ball accidentally bounced on his parents' roof, Bowers punctured it and threw it back, before accusing Paul Shenton of being an irresponsible parent.
The court heard Mr Shenton responded by saying at least he could become a parent, a reference to Bowers previously suffering testicular cancer.
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Mrs Shenton tried to calm the situation, but Bowers leaned out of a bedroom window and the argument continued.
The defendant's father went to apologise and Mrs Shenton tended to her two children, who were screaming, while trying to calm her husband. But then Bowers came out of his front door brandishing a knife.
Mrs Shenton, a teacher, of Thames Drive, Biddulph, told the court: "I saw the knife as soon as he came on my drive. He was holding it up near his shoulder.
"He was saying to Paul, 'I am going to kill you'. Paul was over the gates. He (the defendant) was moving towards the gates and was smashing the gates.
"I intervened and told him to calm down. He did not. He pushed me down on to the steps and lunged at me with the knife and sort of grunted.
"He growled and lunged at me. His father managed to intervene. I thought he was going to stab me."
Bowers pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon on July 23, but did not accept lunging at Mrs Shenton with the knife. But after a trial of issue Judge Paul Glenn found Bowers did lunge at her, possibly to frighten her.
Heather Drew, mitigating, said Bowers had cancer in 2006 and a heart attack in 2010 and added he has no previous convictions.
Judge Glenn jailed Bowers for 10 months and made a restraining order preventing him having any contact with the Shenton family or entering their property for an indefinite period.
The judge told Bowers the ball going on to his parents' property was accidental.
"Your actions were extreme and totally over the top," said Judge Glenn.
"This was a terrifying incident. You lost all sense of reason. You took a knife from your home. I am sure had you been able to get at Mr Shenton in the temper you were in you would have used it against him."
Judge Glenn added: "The courts will not tolerate people taking knives to their neighbours following a very minor incident."
Comments
by the_reaper
Monday, December 17 2012, 5:02AM
“Bit harsh on the football stabbing it like that. He needs reporting to the Humane Society For The Protection Of Balls.”
by Xen51
Sunday, December 16 2012, 8:07PM
“I live in Biddulph and the behaviour of kids and their parents is appalling.... As usual another example of a parent who thought her kids could do what they wanted and say what she wanted when someone complained. It really is time that there were stronger rules on parental responsibility of course no one ever takes a tougher line on that do they. If parents don't know where their kids are or what they're up to, then theyre setting a trully atrocious example. Ive seen it time and again. Kids are allowed to run amok at an early age in banks, building societies on buses in eating places and no one dare remonstrate. No wonder we have yobbos ritoing as early as the age of ten.
And to think this woman is also a teacher. A fine example. Im suprised the unfortunate neighbour was as restrained in his behaviour as he was.”
by stokeandvale
Sunday, December 16 2012, 10:58AM
“@ Steve Rodgers
I agree with Nezzer, what has this got to do with Goverment????”
by warren-lloyd
Sunday, December 16 2012, 10:44AM
“Smelly, what utter rubbish child like rubbish you talk, enemy indeed, and what anyone's politics has to do with this god only knows.”
by Redtone
Saturday, December 15 2012, 9:20PM
“Having my sanity measured by nezzer(IQ)89... oh dear!
As for stokiemart... come back when you qualify to clean his shoes buddy!”
by Nezzer89
Saturday, December 15 2012, 7:51PM
“Well said Mr. Doulton!
Steve Rodgers, are you a loony? What has this got to do with the Tories? You are starting to make Redtone and Stokiemart seem sane”
by mrdoulton
Saturday, December 15 2012, 5:50PM
“the man acted badly, however living next door to neighbors who have children and have no respect for you is a nightmare.Over reaction yes, but it masks the fact that kids rights seem to have move vale than a working adults peaceful existence”
by Redtone
Saturday, December 15 2012, 3:47PM
“Given recent events in Connecticut... good job we've got tight gun control laws, eh?”
by SmellySock
Saturday, December 15 2012, 3:40PM
“so you tell your enemy you have testicular cancer, or had it ,a recipe for disaster pretty obvious he will taunt you at the right moment, also the judge could of used his discretion & not given a jail term mitigating circumstances NO he locks him up VERY VERY INCONSISTENT ''judge'' if the defendant was say 16-17-18 he would of got off,,delinquent teenage's rule & they know it,,broken society broken britain...TORY DIRTY PIGS WANCERS!!”
by A_Reader
Saturday, December 15 2012, 12:40PM
“Shenton mocked a man who'd had testicular cancer for having no kids. What a grown up hero, he is! And he obviously can't make his kids behave. A man goes to prison for being driven to the edge by nuisance neighbours! Where's the fairness in that!”