Golfer attacks neighbour with PUTTER for parking his car 'an inch too near' his home

It began as a petty feud over a car parking space.

But it ended with one neighbour behind bars and the other in hospital nursing a badly broken collarbone after he was attacked with a golf club.

For years Peter Shaw, 61, believed his neighbour, Mike Hilton, 59, had been deliberately parking his car an inch too far in front of his terraced home.

His temper finally snapped last year when he grabbed his golf putter and launched a terrifying attack on his neighbour.

Injuries: Mike Hilton was battered with a putter by his golf-playing next-door neighbour Peter Shaw after a 16-year row over a parking space

Shaw swung the golf club round and brought it crashing down on Mr Hilton’s shoulder leaving him in agony.

Tonight he was beginning a ten-month jail sentence after being convicted of causing grievous bodily harm.

Sentenced: Shaw was jailed for ten months after pleading guilty to causing grievous bodily harm

The court heard the simmering feud began in 1994 after Shaw, a truck driver, accused Mr Hilton, a probation officer, of parking his car one inch too far in front of his terraced house in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.

The row escalated with Shaw embarking on a hate campaign against his neighbours, Mr Hilton and his wife Sandra.

He threw bricks through their windows, poured white paint near the front of their £100,000 house and deliberately positioned a puppet in his car with its middle finger up so it would be facing the Hilton’s property.

Following the series of incidents in 2008, Shaw was given a fixed penalty notice for causing criminal damage.

But the dispute simmered on and came to a head in December 2009 when Mrs Hilton, 49, reported Shaw to police for allegedly scratching her car.

Rachel Widdecombe, prosecuting, said: ‘Later that same day towards 5pm Mr Hilton arrived home from work and saw Peter Shaw stood outside his house gesturing towards him.

‘Mr Hilton ignored this and went inside and then heard a loud bang and went outside to investigate and he saw Peter Shaw standing in his own front yard with a golf club in his hand.

‘Mr Shaw leaned over the wall with the golf club in his hand and said, ‘I haven’t damaged your f******g car.’



‘Mr Hilton who is a probation officer and is used to dealing with anger and aggression told Peter Shaw to go away but Shaw tried to hit him on the head.



Damage: Shaw attacked his neighbour Mike Hilton's car during the 16-year dispute over a parking space outside their homes



‘Fortunately Mr Hilton moved his head away and the club hit him on the shoulder. Mr Hilton slumped to his knees in what he describes as agony.’

Mr Hilton - who plays at the same golf club as Shaw - later told police the attack had left him unable to enjoy his favourite sport due to his injury.

In mitigation Joseph Hart, defending, said: ‘The defendant’s neighbours are bright, articulate and have a sophisticated understanding of the litigation system.

‘My client is not an articulate man and finds it hard to get his point across. He had a moment of anger. He is not a Victor Meldrew character.’



Sentencing Shaw at Manchester Crown Court, Judge David Hernandez said: ‘It would be trite for me to say that everyone needs good neighbours, although few are blessed enough to call them friends.



‘You have been neighbours for many years and it would appear that in the early days you got on amicably. It all went sour and problems arose over parking.

‘It’s a common experience that, with the increase in cars in areas where people live close together, there will be disputes over parking of cars.

‘Anyone must realise that you are very fortunate that you are not facing a far more serious offence because it was your’s and Mr Hilton’s good fortune that the blow did not strike him on the head. But it resulted in a not inconsiderable injury.’

After the case, Mr Hilton said: ‘It was a completely one-sided and petty dispute but we hope it is now over and despite what’s happened we bear no animosity towards Mr Shaw.’

Shaw was also banned from contacting the Hiltons for three years.