A bitter row between neighbours over the building of an “unsafe” brick wall has seen a homeowner appear in court after allegedly taking a hammer to it.
Keith Stopford, 57, is charged with criminal damage after he allegedly took a hammer to the 1.5m high brick wall built by his neighbour while he was away on holiday.
Mr Stopford appeared at Norwich Magistrates’ Court on February 20.
The court heard how police were called at the crack of dawn on December 9, 2022, over reports of the brick wall being damaged.
The warring neighbours in Pump House Close at Queen’s Hills in Costessey, Norfolk are now set to give opposing evidence in a trial.
Mr Stopford pleaded not guilty to intentionally causing damage. A retrospective planning application for the wall was submitted by a Mr Flaviano Taaca and Mrs Rosalyn Taaca.
It was approved with conditions by South Norfolk District Council and Norfolk County Council on February 28, 2023, according to council records.
Prosecutor Lala Small said the wall divided the two properties but that there had been no mutual agreement to build it.
Julie Adams, mitigating, said Mr Stopford would argue he had a “lawful excuse” to take it down because he claims it had been badly constructed and was unsafe.
She said: “He believes it posed a danger to himself, his wife, his dog and other people.”
Magistrates granted him unconditional bail pending a trial on October 18.
