Driveway Dispute Escalates into Alleged Strangulation and Car Damage
A company director has been accused of attempting to strangle his next-door neighbour and slamming a gate onto his luxury car during a violent confrontation over their shared driveway, a magistrates court heard today. The incident, which occurred in the Norfolk village of Bressingham, involved two couples whose long-running property dispute turned physical.
Pressure Washing Incident Sparks Confrontation
Trevor Hollisey, 72, allegedly attacked neighbours Neil and Michelle Ford when they returned from holiday with their 19-year-old daughter Sophie on December 20, 2024. The court heard that Mr Hollisey was pressure washing his driveway when the Ford family arrived home, triggering the confrontation that would lead to multiple assault allegations.
Jennifer Hollisey, 80, reportedly joined the altercation, allegedly striking Mr Ford and knocking his glasses off before slapping a mobile phone from Sophie's hand as she filmed the scene. The incident was captured on both CCTV and mobile phone footage that was presented as evidence in Ipswich Magistrates Court.
Shared Driveway Access at Heart of Dispute
The court learned that the Fords had purchased their detached home for £672,000 in September 2021 with an easement allowing them to drive across the lower portion of the Holliseys' driveway to access their property. However, tensions had been building between the neighbours, particularly after the Fords installed gates on their boundary that opened onto the Holliseys' driveway.
Mrs Ford testified that when they returned from "a few days vacation away" at approximately 3:30pm, they found Mr Hollisey pressure washing directly in front of their gates. She claimed she asked him to move so she could open the gate, but he ignored her request and continued with his spraying.
Wheelbarrow Becomes Flashpoint
The situation escalated when Mrs Ford moved Mr Hollisey's wheelbarrow to allow her husband, who has haemophilia, to drive through the gate. Footage played in court showed Mr Hollisey, wearing wellington boots, objecting violently to his wheelbarrow being moved.
"He was immediately in front of the gate with his back turned to me, so I stood there for a second and he didn't move," Mrs Ford told the court. "I asked him to open the gate and let us on to our drive but he ignored me."
According to the evidence presented, Mr Hollisey responded with abusive language, calling Mr Ford "a f***ing moron" and shouting: "I am busy, can't you see that? Are you f***ing stupid."
Alleged Car Damage and Physical Altercation
The confrontation turned physical when Mr Hollisey allegedly slammed the gate shut, striking the side and wing mirror of Mr Ford's Jaguar F-Pace and causing £1,363 worth of damage. Sophie Ford, who was filming the incident on her phone, could be heard yelling: "If you damage my car, I will genuinely hurt you."
Mr Hollisey reportedly responded: "You stupid little cow… You're as bad as your mother."
Mr Ford testified that he got out of the car when he feared Mr Hollisey was "squaring up" to his wife with "his fists cocked ready to go." He described how the situation deteriorated further when Mrs Hollisey allegedly hit him in the face, knocking off his glasses.
Strangulation Allegation and Medical Concerns
The most serious allegation emerged when Mr Ford claimed Mr Hollisey grabbed him around the throat "in a strangling fashion with a thumb around one side and fingers around the other." He told the court: "It was extremely tight and prevented breathing. I wasn't going to stand and be strangled, so I grabbed his jumper and pushed him backwards."
Mr Ford, who has moderate haemophilia, stated that the incident was particularly dangerous for him as any head injury could cause serious bleeding complications. He testified that he had to immediately inject himself with medication to prevent bleeding after the altercation.
Psychological Impact and Property Dispute
Mrs Ford described the lasting psychological impact of the incident, telling the court: "It's 15 months since it happened and it has played heavily. It has affected us. That was our dream home. We worked hard to get that house but I don't want to live there anymore."
She explained that she now feels uncomfortable going out the front of her house in case she encounters Mr Hollisey, and that her husband watches her from a bedroom window when she goes shopping due to safety concerns.
Legal Charges and Denials
Trevor Hollisey denies three charges: assault by beating of both Mr and Mrs Ford, intentional strangulation of Mr Ford, and causing criminal damage to the Jaguar F-Pace. His wife Jennifer Hollisey denies two charges: assault by beating of Neil and Sophie Ford, and causing £3.99 of damage to Sophie's mobile phone screen protector.
The Holliseys' barrister, Joseph McKenna, suggested during cross-examination that Mrs Ford "was up for a row that day," a claim she firmly denied. The court also heard Mr Hollisey's counter-claim that Mrs Ford had pushed the gate into his legs and then pushed it onto the car herself, implying she was responsible for the damage.
The trial continues as magistrates examine the evidence from what began as a neighbourhood dispute over driveway access and escalated into allegations of serious physical violence and property damage.
