Man set bin on fire inches from neighbour’s door
AN alcoholic threatened to kill his neighbour – then set a wheelie bin on fire outside his bungalow.
The blaze came dangerously close to the victim Michael Floyd’s gas meter and pipes.
Kirklees magistrates jailed Gordon Walker for six months after hearing how his drink-fuelled aggressive behaviour had caused significant distress.
The 55-year-old was already on police bail for threats towards Mr Floyd when he set the fire.
This was for an incident on August 5 at 4.30pm. The victim, who lives next door to Walker in Netherton, described him as becoming difficult when he drinks.
He was at home when he heard an argument between Walker and his partner.
She was calling him a ‘fat b******’ and ‘a nonce’ and Walker’s music was playing loudly so Mr Floyd decided to go round and have a word with him.
Alex Bozman, prosecuting, said: “Mr Walker was in drink and he asked him to turn the music down.
“His response was to turn the music up even louder. He could tell Mr Walker was spoiling for a fight and said: ‘Let’s sort it out now’.
“Mr Walker said: ‘I’ll get my gypsy mates to sort you out and kick the s**t out of you’ and then turned the music up.”
A few hours later Mr Floyd heard banging at the door of his Mercer Close home.
He saw Walker raise his fists and place them into a fighting stance.
Mr Floyd closed the door and called police.
Mr Bozman said: “He felt he was in danger from Mr Walker as he believes that when he drinks he turns psychotic and might cause him serious harm.”
This incident lasted a few hours and left the victim feeling stressed and alarmed.
Mr Bozman said: “He said: ‘I feel at my wit’s end. He’s constantly antagonising me and I want him to stop’.”
Walker was charged with threatening behaviour and was still on police bail when the second set of offences occurred on September 16.
At 5pm Mr Floyd was in his bedroom watching a film with his windows open.
He could smell smoke and initially thought that Walker was burning something in his own garden.
Mr Bozman said: “He looked through the window and Mr Walker was looking in his direction.
“At that stage Mr Walker said: ‘You’re a f****** d*******, a f****** nonce’.
“Mr Floyd took a photo and Carlsberg cans were thrown at Mr Floyd’s windows.
“A video was recorded of Mr Walker stood outside the property.
“He (Walker) beckoned towards him then punched the window on a couple of occasions.
“Mr Floyd heard banging on his back door, thought he was trying to get in and dialled 999.
“Whilst he was on the phone he heard a loud smash and Mr Walker shouting: ‘I’m going to kill you, I’m going to kill you!’
“Mr Floyd was terrified because the window had gone through.”
The victim told the police call handler that he was going to arm himself with a knife in case his neighbour got inside.
Magistrates were told that Mr Floyd is on blood thinning medication and if he starts to bleed this may be difficult to stop.
Paramedics arrived outside and he went into the ambulance for safety as recommended by the call handler.
While he was in the ambulance it came to light that there was a fire at the front of his property, which paramedics put out with a fire extinguisher.
His wheelie bin had been set on fire by Walker. Two of his windows had also been smashed, with the security light pulled away from the wall.
Mr Bozman said: “He felt the arson was a serious incident.
“The fire was six to eight inches from his front door and had Mr Floyd not been aware of it and in the building then there might have been a risk to him.
“It was very close to a gas meter and pipes in the property.”
Walker appeared at the Huddersfield court via a prison video link and pleaded guilty to arson, criminal damage and two counts of threatening behaviour.
At the time of all the offences he was on a suspended prison sentence imposed for a drunken attack on hospital staff trying to help him at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.
His solicitor Jonathan Slawinski said that Walker is a full-time carer for his wife who has mental health problems.
He told magistrates that the neighbours initially got on but their relationship declined due to various issues between them.
Mr Slawinski said these included his client playing loud music.
He described the first incident as ‘trivial’ and ‘stupid’ but acknowledged that the second matter, which culminated in the arson, had escalated into something far more serious.
Mr Slawinski said: “Mr Walker had been drinking and drink clouded his judgement and he made threats.
“In the past he’s had a monumental drink problem which reflects the record.”
Mr Slawinski said that plans are now in place with Kirklees Council to move Walker from the property.
Magistrates said they were concerned by Walker’s repeated behaviour against Mr Floyd and described it as causing significant distress and alarm to him.
They jailed Walker for 24 weeks and made an indefinite restraining order banning him from contacting Mr Floyd.
Walker will have to pay £122 victim surcharge upon his release.