ROWING neighbours came into conflict after a “chance meeting” in a supermarket car park, a court heard.
Rodney Smith spotted the neighbour in his car awaiting family members outside Lidl, in Peterlee, on September 21.
Durham Crown Court was told Smith approached the car, reached in and tried to remove the keys from the ignition, breaking the little finger of the driver in the struggle.
Smith, 53, of Morton Square, Peterlee, who claimed abusive comments were made by the man in the car, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm.
He was given a 12-month community order, with 20 probation-supervised activity days, and made subject of an unlimited restraining order, not to contact or approach his now ex-neighbour, who the court heard has since moved away from that street,.
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