A neighbour dispute boiled over after a dog urinated on a garden gate.

Ronald Jackson, of Park View, Lamphey, Pembroke, pleaded guilty to common assault when he appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates on Tuesday, August 7.

Vaughan Pritchard-Jones, prosecuting, told the court that Rodney Takle had been grocery shopping on July 21, when he was approached by his neighbour Jackson, who threw a punch at him ‘out of the blue’.

“He says it glanced his chin.”

When arrested, Jackson, 65, told police Mr Takle had shouted at his daughter because their dog had urinated on his gate.

Mr Pritchard-Jones added: “The defendant admitted throwing a punch, but says it did not connect. He changed his mind half-way through throwing the punch, so there was no contact.”

“There was no injury. It is unfortunate that the neighbours got into this situation.”

In a victim impact statement, Mr Takle said: “There was no need for him to lash out at me. I’m also angry that he upset my wife who was with me when it happened.”

Mike Kelleher, defending, said: “Unfortunately this is a culmination of eight to ten years of aggravation between neighbours.”

He added that Mr Takle had recently sworn at Jackson’s daughter and had previously made numerous unfounded complaints and allegations about the family which had resulted in many visits from the police.

Mr Kelleher said: “He said ‘don’t ever swear at my daughter’, unfortunately he then took the wrong decision to make as if to hit Mr Takle, but realised you should not lift your hand to anybody and did not follow through.

“There was no contact at all.”

The court heard that the incident could have serious repercussions on Jackson’s work at MoD facilities, which may now refuse him entry because of his conviction.

“It was a neighbour dispute, quite clearly he is not a violent person. He feels now that he walked into a trap and lost his temper.”

Mr Kelleher told the bench that Jackson continued to walk away despite suggestions that he should return for a ‘full-blown fight’.

Magistrates imposed a 12-month conditional discharge, £85 costs and a £20 surcharge.