Eastfield 'neighbour from hell' Gary Walker wielded bike chain in dispute over noise

Gary Walker, 50, stormed over to his neighbour’s home wielding the chain which he “waved around” in front of the victim.

Walker, of Manham Hill, Eastfield, was “screaming and shouting” at the male victim, who told him to go away, said prosecutor Rob Galley.

“The defendant did not (go away) and he was threatening to wrap the chain around (the victim’s) head,” he added.

The victim went to confront Walker who “backed away slightly”, by which time the victim’s partner came out of the house and told Walker to leave.

They went back inside and police were called. Officers went to Walker’s flat where they found the bike chain.

Walker tried to blame the victim for the incident, claiming he was making too much noise – a claim that was discredited in court.

When an officer seized the bicycle chain, Walker said: “What have you taken that for?”

He was arrested and charged with possessing an offensive weapon, breaching a restraining order and a public-order offence.

He admitted the first two charges but the public-order allegation was withdrawn.

Walker appeared for sentence on Thursday after being remanded in prison since his arrest in January.

Mr Galley said that about four hours before the incident - which was witnessed by other neighbours - Walker had marched over to the victim’s home “accusing him of making too much noise”.

“(Walker) said he knew where (the victim) lived but also where he worked, and to watch out,” added the prosecutor.

He said the victim had merely been putting a bed together and had just nipped outside to gather some pieces together when Walker appeared.

The victim didn’t react and went back inside, but Walker returned about a minute later with the one-metre-long chain, which he waved around in “close proximity” to his neighbour.

The court heard that Walker had a rap sheet dating back to 1992 with offences including common assault, public disorder, criminal damage and disobeying court orders.

In 2019 he was convicted of assaulting an emergency worker and possessing a bladed weapon.

He had also beengiven a restraining order banning him from contacting or approaching his neighbour - which he duly breached - following previous incidents.

Defence barrister Glen Parsons said Walker’s behavioural problems were down to drink and drugs and he had a “background of psychiatric interventions”.

“He suffers from anxiety and depression and a certain sense of paranoia about (perceived) noise nuisance,” added Mr Parsons.

“This is amplified when he’s not taking his medication.”

Walker was now in danger of being evicted from his flat due to a second conviction for possessing an offensive weapon.

Jailing Walker for 12 months, judge Sean Morris told him: “The public who live around you don’t want any more of this trouble. You’ve got to lay off the drink and lay off the drugs.”

Due to the time he has already spent on remand, Walker will be released from prison “very soon”.

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