A vengeful North East neighbour who left a woman suffering from panic attacks after attacking her home has been jailed for 18 months. Lee Green, 44, walked into the resident's garden in the middle of the night and shouted: "F****** grasses."
Green was intent on revenge after a neighbour had given a statement to the police. The woman had witnessed Green carry out a previous public order offence, Teesside Crown Court heard. The 44-year-old smashed the resident's window before cycling off at 2am on April 7. He returned minutes later, with his hood up, and threw a stone at another window, Saba Shan, prosecuting, told the court on Friday.
Victim's panic attacks
Teesside Live reports Green was arrested shortly afterwards. In a statement, the victim said that she is "struggling with panic attacks" since she woke up to find Green in her garden. She said: "Every noise through the night, I think it is Lee again. My anxiety is through the roof."
Green was found guilty of threatening a witness and of causing criminal damage, after standing trial. His barrister, Andrew Turton, told the court that Green "is desperate for help" with his alcohol problem.
Alcohol problems cited
While Green has "dried out" during the last four weeks he has spent on remand at HMP Holme House, "he will encounter the same issues" when he returns home to the Ladgate area of Middlesbrough, his barrister said. "He is desperate to deal with his alcohol problem. You are dealing with a man, who over the years, has caused nuisance offences - largely down to alcohol.
"He has little memory of the incident. There was no need for that witness to ever attend court. He pleaded guilty to the public order offence. This was a moment of madness."
Green's barrister said his client is in an "on-off relationship with his partner and that has led to problems". He said: "His address is insecure. He has been attacked in his own home." A family member, who was listening from the public gallery, was willing to take him in, "as long as he doesn't drink," the barrister added.
Jail sentence and restraining order
Judge Timothy Stead told Green, of Morpeth Avenue, Middlesbrough, that he had gone to a neighbour's home "in the middle of the night. He said: "You were intent on revenge. You were shouting in her garden, "f****** grasses" - making plain your motivation for this. Your victim has been significantly affected by what you did. It would not be just or appropriate to suspend your sentence."
Green was jailed for 18 months. A five-year restraining order was put in place prohibiting him from contacting his victim.
