Neighbour attacked with rake in row over parking space

A PROMINENT Earl Shilton businessman hit a man across the face with a rake in a long-running dispute over a parking space.

Landlord Michael Cassidy lay in wait for Peter McGee when he vent his frustration over the use of the parking spaces behind his shop in The Hollow.

Cassidy, 63, who owns the building containing Bevins Butchers, also owns the land behind the row of shops used for parking and had got embroiled in a row with Mr McGee who lived in a flat above the florists next door.

Mr McGee was dropped off by another man on July 27 2015 when Cassidy, armed with the rake, attacked him.

As Mr McGee opened the door to the car to get his jumper out, the door struck Cassidy on his shoulder and Cassidy attacked him, hitting him twice across the face with the rake and then beating him with it.

Minutes later Cassidy told a group of people what he had done and acted out the attack for those watching, who included Mr McGee’s daughter.

Cassidy was arrested but pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm. After a two-day trial last week a jury found him guilty.

He was sentenced to a 12-month community order and 150 hours of unpaid work, and ordered to pay £500 compensation to Mr McGee and £500 court costs at Leicester Crown Court on Friday.

Judge Marcus Tregilas-Davey said: “That land was clearly a source of great dispute between you and others, including Mr McGee.

“When Mr McGee attempted to recover his jumper he opened the car door and caught your shoulder.

“You struck him across the face with the rake twice and beat him with force.

“I have seen the injuries and it seems to me they were significant injuries that were very painful.

“After that attack, far from being shocked and remorseful, within minutes you were heard to be boasting to others about what you had done to him and re-enacting to others.

“It was a shameful scene. It’s terribly sad to see a man of your age standing where you are now.

“You need to think about your future behaviour as you’ve seen what happens if you behave irrationally.”

Earlier in the sentencing hearing, Cassidy’s barrister, Adam Pearson told the judge that Cassidy, of Leighton Road, Northall, Buckinghamshire, was no longer at the shop full-time and kept out of the dispute about the land.

He said: “This offence occurred at a time when tensions were heightened in the vicinity of the shop over access to parking.

“These issues can take on a greater sense of importance than they merit. While Mr Cassidy owns the shop he is no longer working at the shop on a permanent basis.”