A FATHER threatened to pour salt on his neighbour's prized front lawn after complaints about his young son kicking his football on the newly-laid grass.

And Damon Clark, 32, of Holwick Close, Consett, ended up in court after the incident yesterday, as he pleaded guilty to two public order offences, one offence of attempting to damage property and one of threatening to destroy property.

Newton Aycliffe magistrates heard that the victim shouted at the boy to get his football off his front lawn, then went out to speak to Clark.

Clark, who was using 'threatening and abusive' language' kicked the football towards the victim and it hit the front living room window. The defendant then threatened to damage the victim's car and pour salt on his prized lawn.

Paul Donaghue, mitigating, said Clark claimed the neighbour had been 'very aggressive' towards his son – and also that Clark could sometimes seem more aggressive than he actually was.

Magistrates handed him a 12-month community order and ordered him to pay £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.