The ‘normally mild-mannered’ Peter Alfred Nicholson (63) snapped after his neighbour, who is involved in a ‘bitter feud’ with his family, wrongly labelled him a child sex offender, the Magistrate’s Court heard.
During the sentencing hearing Advocate Estelle Burns, defending, said her client and his family now planned to sell their home to get away from the woman.
The court heard Nicholson, who works seven days a week to provide for his family, confronted the woman outside her home with the weapon at around 3.30 pm on Sunday 26 June, shouting that she had ruined his life.
Police were called to the scene and cordoned off the road until Nicholson was arrested and a wooden sledgehammer was found in his garage. He later pleaded guilty to affray and possession of an offensive weapon and was this week sentenced to 120 hours’ community service.
