Pensioner’s ‘homosexual’ slur on neighbour’s garage after tree row
APENSIONER who once served in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers painted the word “homosexual”on his neighbour’s garage door, in a dispute which began over a tree.
When Brian Wilkins appeared in front of Llanelli magistrates he pleaded guilty to harassment without violence against Anthony Ivor Jones, by sending him abusive letters and painting a homophobic comment on his garage door.
The incidents took place between July 25, 2012 and December 22, 2016.
The court heard the defendant and the victim live in New Road, Dafen. The dispute was initially a result of an oak tree overhanging Wilkins’ garden.
Wilkins, 81, believed it belonged to Mr Jones, and sent him an “abusive and threatening” letter, the court heard. Mr Jones responded to the letter saying he had contacted the council and they had come to the conclusion it was on their land.
At a later date, Mr Jones received another letter from Mr Wilkins telling him he was trying to buy the land that his garage was on, adding that he wanted to remove his garage from it.
A third letter came on another date, this time containing homophobic slurs, including “All male gays should be committed to an asylum.” It led Mr Jones to be harassed and alarmed, the court heard.
CCTV was later erected outside his house. Some time later, another letter was sent to Mr Jones, this time again referring to the oak tree again.
At a later date, as Mr Jones went to his garage he could see on the door the word “homosexual” painted in red. Mr Jones thought the situation had “become unbearable” and reported the activity to the police.
The court heard Wilkins was spotted passing underneath the camera with a pot of paint in his left hand and a brush in his right on the CCTV footage. Mr Jones found the incident “distressing and embarrassing,” the court heard.
The police visited Wilkins and, some time afterwards, Mr Jones received another letter from Wilkins full of homophobic abuse, stating “He would swear young boys were knocking on his door and asking where Mr Jones lived.”
The court heard Mr Jones also discovered his car tyres deflated on different occasions, along with his rear window being smashed. Mr Jones reported Wilkins for harassment.
He received another letter, demanding he remove his CCTV cameras.
Prosecuting, Ellie Morgan said: “Mr Jones has made a statement stating how it has been very draining on him, and how it has cost him money to put it right.
“It took him five hours to remove the paint using scouring pads and a pressure washer. It was very embarrassing to have it daubed on his door.
“In the letters, the fact that the defendant keeps going over old ground when he was told the tree did not belong to Mr Jones was a very wearing experience on Mr Jones.”
Mitigating, Richard Morgan said: “He accepts he has been a very foolish man and apologises for what he has done.
“He is 83, and served in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in Malaya. He suffered from post traumatic stress disorder and worked some 43 years at the old Morris Motors.
“Sadly his wife passed away last year. He is not a well man himself.
“In regards to the painting, he accepts in a drink of whisky he had the bravado to paint a remark on the garage.”
Magistrates told Wilkins they did not want to see any more “of this nonsense”. He was given a six-month prison sentence suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs, a £115 surcharge and £100 compensation to Mr Jones.
A restraining order lasting five years has also been made.