A man has said he is lucky to be alive after becoming the innocent victim in the middle of a bitter neighbour dispute.
Robert Mayston was viciously attacked as he walked to check the gate for his friend and neighbour John Buckland (57) where they live in North Bersted Street, Bognor Regis.
Another neighbour, Anthony Haslam, who has waged a long-running dispute ove
r the driveway with Mr Buckland, struck Mr Mayston over the head.
He suffered bruising to the brain and an injury to the side of his face.
Describing the attack, Mr Mayston (58) said: "It was a resounding crack – the next thing I was staggering to get up.
"I am lucky. I was in hospital for six weeks and had bruising on both sides of my brain and have tinnitus in my ears.
"I'm concerned with what Haslam is going to do when he gets back out."
Haslam (48) was sentenced at Winchester Crown Court to nine months in prison for the attack, which took place about 11.30pm on February 3 last year.
The incident is part of a bitter neighbour dispute between Mr Buckland and Haslam which involves the driveway going down the side of Haslam's home.
At the time of the incident the driveway, which leads to Mr Buckland's home and to another property beyond that, had a gate in line with the entrance from the road.
It has since been moved further back, in line with Mr Buckland's land.
In court, Terry Brookes, defending Haslam in court, said: "He is seriously looking into moving away and renting somewhere else.
"He is a man who does what he can in the community and does not look for trouble. He is now facing the consequences of an out-of-hand neighbour dispute."
Sentencing Haslam, Judge Thomas Longbothom said Haslam had become obsessed with the issue with Mr Buckland.
"This is a case which has exercised me considerably," he said. "I have listened to the evidence heard with some consideration.
"You had become obsessed about the issue between yourself and Mr Buckland.
"Unfortunately all the evidence points at this – you hit Mr Mayston and you hit him hard, causing the injuries.
"Clearly there is a side of you which has much to offer – I say that having read various references – but unfortunately there is another side of you.
"You have denied having an anger-management problem but accept you have a temper.
"If you were a younger man and did not have the mitigation, the sentence would have been a longer one."
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The full article contains 481 words and appears in OS-Bognor Observer newspaper.
