A carpenter has avoided a prison sentence after fracturing a retired magistrate's eye socket with a piece of wood during a neighbour dispute in the Dorset village of Walditch. Christopher Wellman, 36, struck Colin Prior, 76, with a 3x4 piece of timber after the pensioner placed his foot on an electric saw.
Bournemouth Crown Court heard that Wellman was working at his mother-in-law's property on 26 March 2025 when Mr Prior approached to complain about noise. After Wellman ignored him, Mr Prior put his foot on the saw. Wellman then took a 'long back swing' with the wood, hitting Mr Prior on the side of the head.
The blow fractured Mr Prior's cheekbone and eye socket, and split his ear 'essentially in half'. His wife Helen witnessed the assault. Mr Prior, a retired BT engineer and former magistrate, said the attack had a 'profound' psychological impact on both of them, and they have since avoided returning to their second home in Walditch.
Wellman admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent. Recorder Tom Day noted the age disparity and Mr Prior's vulnerability but imposed a suspended sentence. The court heard there had been prior ill-feeling over a planning dispute involving Wellman's partner's massage business.
