ROW OVER BURNING SOFA SEE'S PENSIONER ATTACK NEIGHBOUR WITH A SAW

BY VICTORIA WADLEY

The Preston Crown Court has been the site of a case in which a pensioner has beaten his neighbour eight times with a saw in response to an argument over a burning sofa.

The incident happened two days into the first Covid lockdown on March 25 2020 at 10pm. It was reported that Karl Jones saw seven-metre flames rising over the boundary fence at his home in New Lane, Southport. He then approached to review what was happening and found John Mitchell, 67, was burning a sofa in his back garden.
Mr Jones proceeded to Mr Mitchell 'what the f*** was going on', but Mitchell, who had a saw in his hand, lunged at his neighbour and hit him at least eight times.

No ambulance was called due to the covid crisis, however Mr Jones suffered defensive wounds to his shoulder, side and left hand. Prosecuting the case is Colette Renton who said:

"Mr Jones was so stunned he had been struck that initially, he thought he had been struck with the blunt end, but he soon realised he was in pain."

There was a delay in arresting Mitchell, due to the fact that he was shielding due to being clinically vulnerable at the time. He has now pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH). The judge handed Mitchell a 20-month suspended sentence for two years and placed Mitchell on a three-month curfew from 10 p.m till 6 a.m. Mitchel is also the subject of a restraining order banning him from approaching his neighbour or neighbour's property for five years.

Source: Liverpoolecho