Classic car vandalised by feuding neighbour

SICK of suffering repeated scratches to his classic Bentley, Peter Stirling installed a CCTV camera to catch the vandal in the act.

But instead of snaring a mindless youth, footage of the latest attack revealed the culprit was his respected neighbour John Saunders.

The V-shaped mark scratched into the 19 4 Bentley was the result of a petty feud between the two men over the management of their apartment block.

Despite the damning video evidence, Saunders, 69, claimed he was only peering into the vehicle and had not caused the £2,000 worth of damage. But the former Rotary Club president was found guilty and ordered to pay his victim’s £200 insurance excess, as well as a £1, 00 fine.

Saunders, a retired bank manager, vandalised the Bentley in the car park of Berechurch Hall, his apartment complex in Colchester. Mr Stirling’s car had been vandalised on previous occasions, although he did not know who was responsible.

The 60-year-old, who has lived at the building for more than 30 years, revealed the reason for the dispute was his objection to Saunders’s multiple roles as a director of the apartment block’s management firm. He said: ‘I pointed out to him on a couple of occasions I did not think one person should be chairman, secretary and looking after the finances.’

Shortly afterwards, Mr Stirling checked his car and found a fresh scratch. When he looked at the CCTV footage he saw Saunders strolling to the car and scratching its left back panel.

Mr Stirling said: ‘He was not aware of the camera. His face is clearly identified.’

He believed his neighbour was also responsible for earlier damage, but Essex Police told him there was not enough evidence to investigate.

The car, a 4. -litre saloon that once belonged to airline entrepreneur Sir Freddie Laker, cost Mr Stirling £20,000. It has needed £9,000 worth of repairs in total.

Saunders, who appeared before magistrates in Ipswich on Monday, was also ordered to pay £6 0 costs and a victim surcharge.

Afterwards he refused to comment.