A ROW between two neighbours over a parking space led to one accusing the other of slashing his car’s tyres.

Peter Downton and Dean Cockvill both laid claim to the space outside their Upton flats, with the former leaving a threatening note saying: “Hopefully, you will get what’s coming to you.”

Downton, aged 55, appeared before magistrates on Thursday (November 22), accepting a charge of using threatening behaviour to cause harassment.

The defendant told the court his neighbour “has got some cheek” after moving in at the start of the year and, he claims, parking in the space he’s used for seven years.

Downton said he initially didn’t say anything, and instead began parking right up against his ground floor flat but when Mr Cockvill complained to his landlord, the argument escalated.

On August 15, the defendant, who represented himself in court, left the note after his tyres were slashed, which finished with: “It’s not a threat, it’s a promise.”

Nicola Ritchie, prosecuting, said Downton accused his neighbour of slashing the tyres and swore at him, before Cockvill later returned from the pub to find the note on his windscreen.

Downton said three new tenants, including Cockvill, had all moved in to the block of six in Bankside House, Waterside, around January time.

He said there was confusion between the new residents as to where to park and so he “left them to it” – and even when Cockvill began using his space, he didn’t say anything for three months.

“His girlfriend even parked there, and I didn’t say anything,” he continued. “I parked there outside my window, which made it difficult. But again, I didn’t say anything.”

However, Downton said Cockvill then reported his parking outside his window to his landlord.

“A few words were said, here and there – it went on for some time. But he carried on parking there,” said the defendant.

“Eventually, I blocked him in one morning, around June time.”

After Cockvill confronted him, Downton said he told him to stop parking in his space and so he did, according to the defendant.

But then, a week later, Downton said Cockvill began parking “away from the wall – about six feet away – making it really difficult to get in” – meaning he couldn’t get into his space at all.

The defendant said: “In August time, we had a row. I tried to get on with him. I got on with everyone else. He is cleverer than me.”

Harry Markou, chairman of the bench, said: “You have not been in trouble in a long time, although you have quite a history.”

He said Downton should have gone to his landlord rather than continuing the row and sending the threatening note.

Downton was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay a total of £120 in fines and costs.