Bins row neighbour jailed

A pensioner from Wolverhampton was jailed for nearly two years today for a terrifying axe attack on his next door neighbour following a row over wheelie bins.

William Knowles, aged 74, struck Darren Whitehouse with the weapon in the victim's living room.

Trouble flared when Mr Whitehouse, who is in his 40s, heard Knowles banging bins together outside. After an exchange between the men Knowles grabbed a mop and struck Mr Whitehouse on the neck.

Mr Whitehouse, who lives with his father, 76-year-old Arthur, then punched Knowles in the face in self-defence before returning into his house at Lyndale Drive, Wednesfield.

While Whitehouse phoned police from his living room, Knowles came into his house and bought the axe down on the victim, striking his arm.

The pensioner was convicted of aggravated burglary following a trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court in August.

He was cleared of attacking Mr Whitehouse's 76-year-old father Arthur with the wooden-handled weapon on the same night but admitted assaulting Mr Whitehouse junior with the mop.

The court heard there was a history of bad blood between the men. But, today a judge said the attack was "wholly out of proportion".

Recorder Mr Nigel Baker QC today told Knowles, now of Anita Avenue, Tipton, that he had been "the catalyst" for the confrontation on December 3, last year. "You lost control of yourself."

Knowles showed no emotion as he was sentenced to 21 months in prison. He was also made subject of a restraining order, which will run indefinitely and ban him from going to his neighbour's house.

Mr Adam Cowley, defending, said Knowles had suffered a serious eye injury that still required treatment when Mr Whitehouse junior punched him in the face.