Woman driven mad by pagan neighbour’s full moon rituals attacked him with her brolly
A COUPLE attacked their pagan neighbour – a druid witch calling himself Bearheart – with an umbrella and a carving knife after becoming enraged by his noisy rituals every full moon.
Mark and Anne Denyer moved to the Dorset village of Alderholt in February last year, hoping for a quiet life in a semi-retirement complex.
But they quickly grew frustrated with the loud chanting and rhythmic drum beats coming from the back garden of ‘ Bearheart’ – their neighbour John Bennett – who performed the ceremony every full moon with his partner Samantha Hathaway.
Neighbours at the Hillbury Park complex made repeated complaints about strange noises and smells coming from Mr Bennett’s garden which backed on to the Denyers’ £150,000 home.
Mr and Mrs Denyer endured nine months of the rituals before their patience finally ran out, a court heard.
On November 4 last year Mr Denyer, 56, exchanged insults with Mr Bennett over their garden fence, while his wife armed herself with an umbrella.
The couple then went over to Mr Bennett’s house and Mrs Denyer, 52, used the umbrella to hit the bearded druid over the head, causing two lacerations and bleeding. Meanwhile her husband, who had grabbed a carving knife, jabbed at Mr Bennett’s stomach.
Luckily for Mr Bennett, who weighs 22 stone, the blade did not penetrate his abdomen and he suffered only superficial injuries. The fracas was witnessed by Miss Hathaway who became distraught at seeing blood.
Mr and Mrs Denyer were spared jail by Judge Jonathan Fuller who said he understood how they had become frustrated at the ‘ intolerable noises’ from their neighbour’s garden.
He added: ‘ You are of previous good character, you had gone to Hillbury Park for the tranquillity, and had no doubt led blameless and hardworking lives up until this particular point.’
Mr Denyer, a lorry driver, was given ten months in prison suspended for a year and 130 hours of unpaid work. Mrs Denyer received a six-month suspended sentence with 100 hours of unpaid work.
Both denied unlawful wounding but were convicted after a trial at Bournemouth Crown Court.
After the case a neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: ‘We sometimes heard odd, not normal, music and smells like joss sticks and things. John has a personalised number plate for his car that says 666, which is a bit worrying. I think he’s quite open about saying he’s a witch.’
The pagan couple are members of the Clan of the Pheryllt, which is inspired by ancient druids who practised alchemy in the Welsh mountains. Today, members hold public and private rituals or ‘esbats’ at full moons, solstices and equinoxes.
Thomas Evans, defending Mr Denyer, told the court he and his wife had initially tried to deal with the situation through letters and complaints, ‘but when that didn’t work they took matters into their own hands in a completely inappropriate manner.’ Neither the Denyers nor Mr Bennett wanted to comment after the case.
‘Quite open about saying he’s a witch’