Garden fight over cat mess

Jun 26 2009 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A QUARREL over a pet’s toilet habits prompted two men to inflict violent retribution on a neighbour in a quiet village near Kinross.

Perth Sheriff Court heard how William Young and David Dickman attempted to gouge out the eyes of Anthony Dyson after claims about his cat’s behaviour prompted a full-scale confrontation.

Fiscal depute Charmaine Cole told the court the complainer was in his house when he heard a noise outside and went to the bottom of his Kinnesswood garden.

Both accused were standing by a gap in the hedge separating their ground from Mr Dyson’s, and an argument quickly escalated when the pair claimed the neighbour’s cat had been fouling on their side.

“Both accused came through the gap in the hedge and began assaulting the complainer,” said Ms Cole.

“Mr Dyson described Young as being on his back while Dickman attacked him from the front. Dickman was struggling with Mr Dyson while Young attempted to gouge at his eyes.

“The complainer screamed for help and his family saw him being punched on the head and body by the accused.

“They managed to break up the assault and contacted the police.”

After both parties went back inside, the accused pair separately contacted the police claiming they had been assaulted.

Dickman (45) then summoned paramedics, stating Young (53) was having a heart attack.

After staff arrived at the accused’s home, a paramedic knelt down to check on Young but Dickman kept getting in the way, acting in an aggressive manner and clenching his fists.

“The paramedics were so concerned that they phoned the police and asked them to attend for their safety, but Dickman continued,” said Ms Cole. “They eventually left, stating they would not be returning, and Dickman phoned 999 and asked again for paramedics to attend.”

Despite being told the ambulance would not be returning to his home, Dickman refused to stop dialling 999.

Only after police attended to arrest the pair was Young eventually taken to hospital by officers.

During the assault, Mr Dyson sustained a wound to the left side of his scalp, two small cuts to the left side of his face, scratches to his head, tenderness and bruising, but declined medical attention.

Young’s solicitor Cliff Culley described the incident as “unfortunate” and said there had been no further neighbour disputes.

Young and Dickman, of Woodmarch, Kinnesswood, pled guilty to a reduced charge alleging that they assaulted Mr Dyson, of Lyndale, by struggling with him, punching him and attempting to gouge his eyes, all to his injury.

Dickman also admitted assaulting, obstructing or hindering three paramedics by acting in an aggressive manner towards them, persistently dialling 999 requesting police and ambulance, knowing full well that they were both in attendance, and acting in an aggressive manner towards personnel, refusing to speak to police and obstructing paramedics from providing medical assistance.

Sentence was deferred on the pair until July 22 for background reports.