Homeowner, 47, convicted of harassing neighbour after blocking shared driveway with Range Rover 100 times – The Sun

A NUISANCE neighbour has been convicted of harassment after he purposely blocked his next door neighbour's driveway over 100 times with his Range Rover.

David Comerford, 46, constantly tormented his neighbour, Mark Charnock, over a two-year period by parking across the exit to his gated property in Worsley, Manchester.

Comerford deliberately obstructed his neighbour's drive over one hundred times after the two fell out about access to a shared stretch of road, Manchester Magistrates Court heard.

Mr Charnock told the court his life was made a "nightmare" after he was forced to find a space nearby – as his neighbour had blocked access to his property.

Between December 2016 and August 2018, Mr Charnock claimed was unable to go for dinner with his mum, missed taking his daughter to appointments and couldn't get to the gym.

He was even forced to set up CCTV linked to his mobile phone so he could check if his home was blocked off before driving home.

Comerford denied the claims, saying he parked in what he believed was a "reasonable" space on a stretch of private road the neighbours shared.

But magistrates convicted him of two counts of harassment without violence.

The court heard that both neighbours had originally got on well, and had been round to each other's homes for drinks on previous occasions.

NUISANCE NEIGHBOUR

Prosecutor, John Richards said the two became involved in a dispute over who had right of way along the shared private road.

The court heard that Mr Charnock had also opposed a planning application from Comerford to build a double garage attached to his house.

Mr Richards said: "This was an act of vindictiveness on the victim for objecting to planning permission he [Comerford] wanted to go for.

"This only started when the two men had an argument about who had right of way."

Mr Charnock said he asked Comerford to move his car on one occasion in November 2016 but following an "altercation" was advised not to engage with him again.

Instead, he began taking photos and built up a case against his next-door neighbour, before reporting it to police in January 2018.

The victim said that when he was spotted by Comerford, his neighbour shouted: "Are you having fun you little t***.

"Why are you taking pictures of my car, are you jealous or something?"

CONSTANT STRUGGLE

He told the court: "I found that during the course of the last year I had stomach pains and went to see a doctor.

"I had scans and nothing was found but when I told the doctor what had been going on he said it may have been induced by stress."

Comerford, who moved into his property on Worsley Road in 2013, said he had been "blissfully unaware" of his neighbour's grievance.

He told the court there had been one occasion in which Mr Charnock had asked him to move his car, to which he had obliged.

"I said I was more than happy to move and that all he had to do was knock on," he said.

"It was my view that he was happy with the situation, it seemed he was happier to park his car on the road than to knock on."

"I would always park where I thought was reasonable and just," Mr Charnock added.

Delivering a guilty verdict, head magistrate, Joe Bangudu said the bench were unconvinced by Comerford's evidence.

"We found that Mr Comerford was very evasive when answering pertinent questions," Mr Bangudu said.

"Your answers were not compelling that there was no alternative place for you to park and you parked there knowing the problems that would cause."

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