Dorset man 'snapped' and attacked his noisy neighbour

Nigel David Chapman, 62, grabbed John McCarthy by the throat during the “prolonged” and “sudden attack” at their shared accommodation in Bournemouth.

Mr McCarthy, aged in his 40s, suffered a broken nose and fractured eye socket from Chapman’s assault at the address in Wolverton Road.

Chapman, now of Young’s Road, Bournemouth, appeared in the dock at Bournemouth Crown Court having previously admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Prosecuting, Tom Wright said Chapman assaulted his long-standing housemate early in the morning on January 28.

Mr Wright said it seemed there had been “a few flashpoints over the years” due to noise levels produced by Mr McCarthy.

The defendant confronted his neighbour as he was leaving the shared bathroom before “launching a sudden and rather unexpected attack”.

“There were repeated blows to the face which caused the fractured eye socket,” said Mr Wright.

He added: “The victim remembers there were about six or seven blows to the face. He was also grabbed around the neck at one point.”

The court heard that Chapman told the victim at one point during the “protracted incident” that he would “end him”.

Nigel David Chapman leaving Bournemouth Crown Court

“The victim was very thrown by what had happened,” said Mr Wright.

The prosecutor said Mr McCarthy appeared to be making good progress in his recovery but photographs of the injuries “speak for themselves”.

Mr Wright said: “It was a frightening and an unpleasant incident for the victim.”

Following his arrest, Chapman, who was of previous good character, fully accepted that the incident had played out as described to him, as well as volunteering information that there had been previous physical violence from him towards Mr McCarthy.Mitigating, Kevin Hill said the injuries were “nasty” and in the context of living together in shared accommodation.

“He is very sorry for the injuries he caused,” said Mr Hill. “He realises he should have dealt with things very differently and there is absolutely no excuse.”

On the background that led to the attack, Mr Hill said: “He was subjected to high levels of noise and this vibrating through the house.”

The offender was sleep deprived and described as living quite an isolated life, the court heard.

“He says he simply snapped after a build up over a long period of time,” said Mr Hill.

Recorder Oba Nsugbe QC said the defendant “plainly snapped” before committing the “sustained” attack with blows to face and body.

“He suffered a number of injuries from the incident. I have seen the photographs and they do not make attractive viewing.”

The judge said he had no doubt the offence crossed the custody threshold but he would handed down a suspended sentence.

Recorder Nsugbe QC said it was clear the noise made by Mr McCarthy was causing friction between the two housemates.

“That is no reason to go around and assault somebody in this way,” said the judge.

He added: “You are a man of previous good character, which makes this outburst all the more surprising.”

Chapman received an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, with a requirement to complete 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He was also ordered to pay £300 prosecution costs and £200 compensation.

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