Elderly man confronts neighbour with baseball bat as long-standing parking row leaves him at ‘breaking point’

Skipton Magistrates Court heard Wigglesworth, 76, had reached “breaking point” over parking arrangements outside his property.

Despite having no previous criminal record, the elderly man’s actions resulted in damage totalling £1,007.99, including a destroyed windscreen and a damaged private parking sign.

Prosecutor Alison Whiteley told the court the neighbour had been preparing the adjacent property for a new tenant when Wigglesworth arrived at his door.

The man activated his phone’s recording function before answering.

Court footage captured Wigglesworth shouting about parking.

When asked “have you been to the pub again”, he replied “of course I’ve been to the ******* pub again”.

|

GETTY

After the neighbour shut the door, a loud noise prompted him to investigate outside, where he discovered Wigglesworth standing beside his vehicle with its windscreen shattered.

Wigglesworth then retrieved a baseball bat, causing the neighbour to retreat backwards to his home, unwilling to turn his back on the pensioner.

The neighbour asked “what are you doing with that? I hope you are not going to do anything daft?” before calling Wigglesworth “stupid” and informing him police had been contacted.

Defence solicitor Siobhan White explained that ownership of the parking space, situated directly outside her client’s kitchen window, remained contested.

| GETTY

She said Wigglesworth and his wife had purchased their home from the same man who owned the neighbouring property and had resided there for a decade.

“It was a momentary loss of control by an elderly man at breaking point,” Ms White told magistrates. “It was totally out of character and he accepts full responsibility.”

The court imposed a 12-month conditional discharge, ordering Wigglesworth to pay £1,007.99 in compensation alongside £85 costs and a £26 surcharge.

However, magistrates rejected an application for a restraining order.