'Real-life Victor Meldrew' attacked neighbour with rake over honeysuckle row

He frequently complained to the council about a tree blocking light to his bungalow as well as overgrown bushes nearby, a court heard.

But nothing riled him more than the relative splendour of Brian Woolams's next-door garden.

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One day last summer, the simmering tension boiled over when Morson was caught lopping the top off his neighbour's flowering honeysuckle.

When Mr Woolams tried to remonstrate with him, he was attacked with a rake. Yesterday Morson admitted assault at Hull Crown Court and was given a stern lecture by Judge Michael Mettyear.

Passing a three-month suspended prison sentence, the judge compared Morson to Meldrew, Richard Wilson's character in BBC TV's One Foot in the Grave.

"Your actions were reminiscent of Victor Meldrew on that day and with your neighbours on the period before this as well," he said.

"Even though you are 72 you have not grown up. You seem to be a nuisance.

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You act like a young man.

"Grow up and get on with your neighbours. If you stay out of trouble you can put it behind you. If there is any more I will lock you up."

Twelve of Morson's neighbours were in the public gallery to witness his public humiliation.

His wife Barbara was also at the hearing.

The court was told that the honeysuckle incident happened on August when Mr Woolams heard a noise at the front of his bungalow in Hull and went to investigate.

He saw Morson dodge out of sight behind the fence between their two properties and then noticed one of his plants had been attacked.

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The cashier and former civil servant told Morson: "This has gone too far. Have you nothing better to do? Can't you get yourself a hobby."

Nicholas Adlington, prosecuting, told the court that Morson let his neighbour into his garden where they continued arguing.

He said Mr Woolams felt threatened by the rake Morson had armed himself with.

Morson first pushed Mr Woolams, 62, and then "swung the rake with force" and struck him on the forehead.

Mr Adlington said: "The blow caused Mr Woolams to fall to his knees. He put up his hand to find himself bleeding from the wounds."

With neighbours arriving at the scene, Morson allegedly said: "Get up, get up, if you want some more. I'll give you some."

Police and paramedics were called and the rake was seized as evidence.

Mr Woolams was taken to hospital where he had eight stitches to three head wounds.

Morson initially disputed his neighbour's version of events but his barrister Steven Garth said he now showed "genuine remorse".

Mr Garth added: "He says he is very sorry. In the future he intends to keep himself to himself.

"He has plans to move from the area."

Outside court, Morson said only: "I am not Victor Meldrew."

Mr Woolams said: "This is the first time I have been involved in a fight since I was at pre-school.

"The judge summed him up as a Victor Meldrew character. That is what he is. He has idle hands and pernickety ways."