WARRING neighbours who clashed over the painting of a wall ended up in court when the feud turned violent.
Mavis and Alan Ward and Paul Haslam and his partner Kirsty Robertson have agreed to go to mediation in a bid to solve their problem.
Mr and Mrs Ward had lived in Leaway, Thornton, for 25 years when the other couple moved in next door in 2001.
District Judge Jeff Brailsford sitting at Blackpool Magistrates Court heard Haslam, 45, had pleaded not guilty to threatening the Wards and also denied harassment against the couple.
Robertson, 43, denied the same charges but admitted £250 of criminal damage to one of the Ward’s windows.
Sue McNamara, prosecuting, said issues between the two sides started after Robertson and self-employed Haslam moved in.
An argument developed over the painting of a party wall.
The prosecutor said: “All the Wards wanted was to live a quiet life but solicitors became involved over the matter of the wall.
“The stress became so much that once when she was approached by one of the defendant’s, Mrs Ward drove off the wrong way down a one way street.
“Taking some of these incidents in isolation may not mean much but the Ward’s quiet life was being taken away.”
The prosecutor said the Wards had a CCTV camera placed on their property and the camera caught Robertson throwing a piece of slate at the Ward’s window.
And she told the judge: “Both the parties have now agreed to mediation rather than these cases go to trial.
“We all have to live with our neighbours and the defendants have agreed to be bound over to keep the peace.”
Sue Mugford, defending both, said: “My clients do believe the harassment has gone on both ways.
“Robertson agrees she threw the small piece of slate at the window.
“She had been on a birthday night out and had a few drinks and threw it in temper.”
The judge bound over both defendants for 12 months in the sum of £200 and they must keep the peace specifically towards the Wards.
Robertson was also given a 12 month conditional discharge in respect of the broken window.
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