TWO neighbours had a fist-fight in the garden after one had smashed the other’s car lights because he was playing music in his flat.

The court heard how Liviu Danila had been playing music during a get-together with friends in his flat on Rainbow Hill, Worcester, on Christmas Eve, last year.

Andrew Challis, aged 53, who had been drinking alcohol alone in the flat below, had claimed the loud music was a regular occurrence and caused him “distress”, according to his solicitor.

Challis admitted common assault and criminal damage to property valued under £5,000 when appearing before Worcester Magistrates’ Court last Thursday (March 1)

Collette Orton, prosecuting, said at around midnight, the victim was drawn to the window when outside lights came on.

She said he then saw the defendant walking down the garden with a bat, before smashing the rear lights on his car.

Having confronted Challis, a statement by Mr Danila, read in court, said the defendant punched him, causing him to “fall to the ground”, before getting up and hitting back to “defend myself”.

She said the neighbours did not know each other well, but that Mr Danila had claimed the defendant could be “aggressive”.

Neil Davis, defending, said his client has lived at the ground floor flat for “a number of years” and has had ongoing problems with Mr Danila, who had moved in around three months beforehand.

“He tells me there is often music playing in that flat causing him distress,” said Mr Davis.

He said Challis has gone to his landlord about these issues before, but his “landlord has health problems and is looking after his wife” away from the property.

“Unfortunately, after having consumed alcohol on Christmas Eve he went to the neighbour’s car and committed damage,” he said.

“For his sins, he was punched by the neighbour and had a black eye as a result of that.”

Mr Davis said Challis, who suffers from arthritis and receives a disability living allowance, has been staying at his ex-wife’s home since the incident.

Referring to both neighbours, he said there “has been no coming together since” Christmas.

Mrs Orton said Mr Danila would be happy with the money for repairs to his 10-year-old car.

Mr Davis said any kind of restraining order would be unnecessary as his client is not currently living at the property.

He added that his client would not be suitable for unpaid work due to his arthritis.

Challis was given a compensation order for £200, and was also ordered to pay £135 in court costs.