Man accused neighbour of having smelly breath before posting toothpaste through letterbox

A man who fumed over car parking accused his neighbour of having smelly breath the day before posting toothpaste and a toothbrush through his letterbox, a court has heard. Steven Wright subjected Colin Jones to a series of harassment from October 2019 to April 2021 while the pair were neighbours in Handforth, near Stockport.

The 38-year-old's anger towards Mr Jones began with a 'strongly-worded' note on his neighbour's car, warning him 'don't f****** park here again'. But the court heard events soon escalated - with Wright suspected of damaging cars belonging to Mr Jones' relatives and a CCTV camera installed because of the row.

Wright appeared at Crewe Magistrates' Court on Tuesday (March 29), pleading guilty to harassment without violence, Cheshire Live reports. The incidents all took place at Hampson Crescent, where Wright still lives.

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According to prosecutor Simon Leong, Mr Jones would 'often find scratches' on cars belonging to his relatives after the initial parking note, and he suspected Wright was to blame. He 'verbally confronted' Wright about it on February 2020, who denied it before a 'verbal confrontation' ensued.

Mr Leong said: "The defendant used a clenched fist to push into the chin of Mr Jones. The complainant said that it did not hurt him or cause him any injury.

"The defendant went on to say that Mr Jones' breath smelled and words were exchanged. The following day, in a spiteful act of retaliation, the defendant posted through the letterbox a toothbrush and toothpaste to mock the complainant further."

The court heard Mr Jones then installed a camera inside his