Man hit chicken owner with a shovel

7:00pm Friday 25th August 2006

A MAN struck a chicken with a spade and hit a neighbour over the head in a row about animals escaping from an allotment.

Frank Sutton of Fernhurst Street, Blackburn, appeared at Preston Crown Court and admitted actual bodily harm.

A judge gave 42-year-old Sutton a six-month prison sentence, suspended for a year. He was also ordered to do 100 hours of community work and pay his victim £150 compensation.

The court heard that Sutton and 55-year-old Ronnie Kenyon had been next door neighbours in Wednesday Road. There was an allotment to the rear where Mr Kenyon kept animals including goats and hens.

David Pickup, prosecuting, said there was a background of dispute between the two men about animals escaping from one piece of land to another and allegedly eating plants on the defendant's property.

On the afternoon of September 16, a schoolboy saw Sutton hit a chicken with a spade, after it went onto his land. The defendant was said to have used a spade to toss the chicken onto a shed roof.

Mr Kenyon came home and found out what had happened.

Mr Pickup said: "Mr Kenyon says that while he was coming down the ladder, recovering the chicken, the defendant was white with rage, holding a shovel above his head and struck a blow to the back of his head.

"The defendant swung the blade of the spade towards Mr Kenyon's head, causing a linear laceration."

Sutton had told police he had heard banging on his back door and picked up the shovel, anticipating trouble.

Mark Lamberty, defending, said: "He feels aggrieved on the one hand, but has been able to acknowledge his conduct was unacceptable."

The defendant was seeking to avoid contact with Mr Kenyon and had now moved about a mile-and-a-half away.

Judge Angela Nield told Sutton she accepted that the offence was out of character. While his behaviour might be explained, it could not be excused.

Latest blogs and columns