Police in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, have arrested a 76-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder after he beat the 84-year-old woman who lives nextdoor to him with a rake.

Police said Hajime Fukunaga is accused of beating his neighbour about the head and chest at around 7 p.m. Tuesday at her house, Sankei Shimbun reported.

The woman was taken to hospital where she remained in a serious condition on Tuesday, police said.

Police said Fukunaga has admitted to the charge and quoted him as saying he had been having trouble with the woman because she kept feeding stray cats in the neighborhood.

© Japan Today