Noisy row sparked fracas

John Sweeney and his girlfriend were annoyed because the noisy argument next door had gone on for half-an-hour.

Sweeney, a 45-year-old electrician, of Warren Street, Fleetwood, pleaded guilty to damaging a neighbour’s front door.

He was given a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £400 compensation with £85 costs plus £20 victims’ surcharge by Blackpool magistrates.

Prosecutor, Andrew Robinson, said there had been a noise issue between Sweeney and his neighbour because the walls between their two properties were thin.

On July 17 the neighbour and his girlfriend had a noisy argument which caused Sweeney and his partner to become annoyed. Sweeney then hit the neighbour’s front door.

Patrick Nelligan, defending, said his client had lived at the address for more than 10 years and kept himself to himself.

The night the neighbours had a noisy row Sweeney’s girlfriend went and argued with them. Sweeney said the neighbour made threats to his girlfriend, so he went round and hit next door’s front door with his shoulder.