Angry neighbour smacks man in face with plank of wood over bike dispute
FATHER-OF-THREE THREATENED TO SHOOT ANOTHER MAN
A Father-of-three hit his neighbour in the face with a plank of wood and threatened to shoot another man with a gun in an argument after they moved his bike.
Hull Crown Court heard there had been an ongoing row between Wayne Phillips and his neighbours over where the 36-year-old kept his bike.
Things came to a head in the early hours of July 4, when Phillips returned to his flat in Wymersley Road, west Hull, and his bike had been moved from the communal area of the flats.
Prosecuting, Stephen Welch said: “The people involved live in the same block of flats, most of them are elderly.
“Mr Phillips has lived there for about 18 months and it has been indicated that there has been a number of other incidents where residents have been concerned about his behaviour.
“In this particular incident Phillips returned home at 12.30am on July 4, and had drunk nearly a litre of gin that night. He began shouting ‘Where’s my bike? You’ve f ****** moved my bike’.
“He was unable to find his bike and blamed his neighbour for it. He walked up to his neighbour’s front door and kicked it several times while shouting about his bike.
“The neighbour’s wife called the police. At that point the defendant smashed the bedroom window and shouted, ‘I’m going to kill you, I’m going to get a gun’.”
Hull Crown Court heard how Phillips then started smashing up the man’s car – which he used for work as a taxi driver – and started jumping on the bonnet before smashing more windows.
It was just moments after this he targeted another neighbour who was outside checking on his cat, telling him “you’re next”.
Phillips repeatedly hit the man in the face with a block of wood which had sharp nails on the end, causing him to suffer serious cuts and bruises. He was arrested by police at the scene.
He told officers he did not get on with his neighbours because they would move his bike outside the common area and on more than one occasion it had been stolen.
He said he had smashed the window because the neighbour would not talk to him.
Regarding the damage to the taxi, he told police “If I can’t have transport, why should he”.
In regards to the second man, he said he had acted in self defence as he had hit him first and branded him a rapist and a paedophile. Police recovered a ball-bearing gun from Phillip’s home.
His victim told the court: “He really scared me and I now live in fear of what he will do next. Every time I leave my flat I am in fear of what he will do.”
Phillips pleaded guilty to criminal damage and two counts of affray. In mitigation, Catherine Kioko-gilligan said Phillips’ actions arise from his “misguided belief ”.
She said: “He says there has been ongoing issues between him and the neighbours for some time. He does acknowledge he lost all self control and was heavily in drink.
“He was unable to problem solve appropriately. He knows he is not getting any younger and this is his opportunity to effect real change.
“He needs professional help and assistance.”
Recorder Allison Hunter refrained from sending Phillips straight to prison, sentencing him to 15 months, suspended for two years. She said: “This is your last chance because you really ought to be going to prison. I hope this allows you to make a difference to your life.”
He was also given a restraining order against three of his neighbours and told not to contact them in any way. He must also adhere to a curfew between 11pm and 7am.