MORE details emerged yesterday of a long-running family feud that drove a woman to attack her elderly brother with three sticks of rhubarb.

On May 20, 50-year-old Margaret Porter saw her brother William, 72, in his Land Rover in Askrigg, North Yorkshire.

She had her dog on a lead and was carrying the rhubarb in her free hand. She claims that he was laughing at her, so she went over to the vehicle's open window and threw the rhubarb at him, before hurling a torrent of abuse.

Yesterday, Northallerton Magistrates' Court heard that the blow left him with blurred vision in his left eye and needing painkillers.

Porter, of Tofts Farm, Newbiggin, admitted one count of common assault last month and appeared yesterday to be sentenced.

Nicola Lynskey, prosecuting, said she had "certain issues" with a number of people, mainly family members.

"The defendant lived in a very small community for a long period of time," she said.

"Over a period of 20 years, there have been certain issues with the community with regards to the defendant.

"Reading from the claimant's statement, he says that most of the village do feel unsafe when she is around."

She added that Porter suffered from paranoid personality disorder.

Her solicitor, David Scourfield, said the family problems dated back to what she saw as a failure to split up their father's estate in a fair way.

The dispute had led to her damaging windows at her brother's farm and falling out with her sons' families.

Police had become so concerned at her behaviour that they asked for a criminal anti-social behaviour order to be imposed to stop her from harassing family members, the court heard.

But magistrates said they would not impose the order without more evidence, and the case was adjourned until December 8, when a review hearing will take place.

Porter was bailed on the condition that she does not approach, communicate or interfere with her brother.