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A feud between neighbours ended with an elderly man being attacked by a woman with a sledge hammer and punched and kicked by her 82-year-old dad.

Tensions had been rising in Chitterman Way, Markfield, because of a row over shared land between Philippe Caillot, who is in his 70s, and John and Beryl Cox next door.

Loughborough Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday how, on September 25 last year, Beryl Cox, 74, shouted at Mr Caillot asking for a “civilised word” and he emerged from his house with an air horn.

A row began with both pensioners shouting at each other and Mr Caillot sounding his air horn to drown out the retired hairdresser’s swear words.

John Cox, 82, then burst out of his bungalow and punched Mr Caillot repeatedly while his wife punched and shoved the victim, calling him a “******* Frenchman”.

During the struggle, John Cox pushed his finger near Mr Caillot’s mouth and Mr Caillot bit down, leaving him with a wound that needed four stitches.

As concerned neighbours began trying to intervene, Mr Caillot shoved John Cox backwards and his attacker fell and bumped his head.

Beryl Cox took her husband inside and telephoned their daughter, Lisa Cox (51), who rushed round from her home in nearby Meadow Lane, Markfield, and kicked down Mr Caillot’s fence and threw one of his metal garden chairs at the glass before being handed a sledgehammer by her father.

She used the sledgehammer to smash her way into Mr Caillot’s conservatory and while he stood in the conservatory on the phone to the police she attacked him with the sledgehammer, as well as with her fists, and John Cox also joined in the attack, kicking and punching him.

When Mr Caillot was collapsed on his sofa and bleeding heavily from his head, Lisa Cox smashed up several valuable ornaments in his conservatory before leaving.

Police cars soon arrived on the scene, followed by two ambulances to take away John Cox and Mr Caillot, who had a badly blackened eye and cuts to his face, hands and head – his injuries were so serious he was given a brain scan at hospital.

The Cox family were arrested and John Cox and his daughter pleaded guilty to causing an affray, with Lisa Cox also admitting property damage.

They were sentenced at Leicester Crown Court in April.

Sarah Cornish, for Lisa Cox, said: “They have no previous convictions and they’re shocked to find themselves in court in these circumstances.

“On this day she had a call from her mother and was told a fight had happened and her father was bitten and she flew into a rage and went to their address and gained entry next door and assaulted the complainant.

“They were once close friends with him and it’s a shame their former good relationship was reduced to these circumstances.”

Karly Mee, for John Cox, said: “It was completely out of character.”

John and Lisa Cox were each sentenced to a 12-month community order and placed on a home curfew between 8pm and 8am for two months.

Beryl Cox pleaded not guilty to common assault and a court order prevented the case in April from being reported by the Mercury until Beryl Cox’s trial had concluded.

At Loughborough Magistrates’ Court, Mr Caillot gave evidence about the attack at the three-hour trial.

Beryl Cox also took the witness stand, and said: “At no time did I touch Caillot.”

But the three magistrates decided to accept the victim’s version of events and found Cox guilty of common assault.

She was fined £60 and ordered to pay £300 towards court costs and a £30 surcharge.

(Image: Google)

Philippe Caillot, giving evidence at Beryl Cox’s trial yesterday, described the two attacks on him.

Speaking about the first assault by Beryl and John Cox, he said: “She was pushing me and trying to punch me, as well.

“Obviously I’m a head taller than her so she couldn’t punch me in the head.

“I ended up with both of them up against me and she was pushing me.

“He was doing the main job.”

Describing his attempts to fight back, he said: “Her husband was pushing me. He had his hand in my face. I managed to bite his finger to get him away from me.

“Neighbours came and courageously tried to separate us.

“John Cox had fallen on the floor. I went inside the house and tried to dial 999.”

He then described how, later on, Lisa Cox came to the rear of his bungalow, smashed his fence, picked up a chair and threw it at the conservatory.

He said: “She tried to smash the chair on the door. The door didn’t break and her father came and brought her a sledgehammer.

“She completely smashed up the glass using the sledgehammer.

“The daughter walked into my conservatory and she went for me with the hammer but mainly with her fists.

“Her father carried on the attack with punches and kicking.

“My face was unrecognisable.”

He said that Beryl Cox also had a part to play in the second attack in the conservatory by encouraging her husband and daughter.

He said: “When I was attacked she encouraged everybody – her daughter and her husband – to attack me.”

He said that after the attack Beryl Cox spoke to him.

He said: “Beryl said, ‘That will teach you right. Now you can call the police’.”

He said it was at that stage Lisa Cox “ransacked the ornaments”.