Ex-hairdresser admits assault after smashing neighbour's phone during altercation in Hebburn
South Tyneside magistrates were told he believed she was taking pleasure in filming his physical discomfort.
A former South Tyneside hairdresser shouted abuse at a neighbour before grabbing her phone and throwing it after she allegedly filmed him, a court heard.
Gary Littlefair, 61, took umbrage when he noticed her sitting in her car and apparently pointing the camera of her mobile at him at 4pm on Saturday, August 29.
Littlefair, of Civic Court, Hebburn, swore in branding her “rotten” and then called her an “ugly bitch and a slag” during his outburst - then walked to her and grabbed her phone.
Borough magistrates heard he believed she was taking pleasure in filming his physical discomfort, the result of several strokes five years ago.
Prosecutor Samantha Brown said the complainant was at Civic Court and had been present for less than 10 minutes when she heard someone swear in also using the word “rotten”.
She added: “He was in the passenger seat of a car, and he also called her an ugly bitch and a slag.
“He approached the window of her car and placed both hands on the window, trying to force it down. He grabbed her phone and threw it, breaking it.”
Littlehair, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to charges of criminal damage and common assault.
David Forrester, defending, said: “The history of this is what matters. This gentleman has no relevant previous convictions.
“He is an ex-hairdresser and suffered a stroke in 2021 and then three mini strokes and since then has had difficulty with this person.
“There is no history of any violent behaviour. Three days before these matters, his father passed away.
“He was with his partner, and both tell me that she was filming him with her phone and that she was enjoying his discomfort about his movement from A-B.
“She was making an attempt to wind him up, that’s what’s said. The reason he’s got the phone is because she was filming him. He threw the phone away.
“The filming has never been shown to the police. He has a lot going on with his physical health problems.”
Magistrates sentenced Littlefair to a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay £85 court costs and a £26 victim surcharge.