Prank results in minor assault. Infomed Police. Right/Wrong?
Discussion
Bit of background first...........
My house, and those 2 - 3 either side of it, are accessed by a private road on land owned by a third party. There are two entry/exits at either end.
So far as it's gone for the last 6 - 7 years is that everyone assumes that the land is not theirs, but it's understood that because we use it for access to our properties each of the householders maintains their section to a standard that ensures no damage is done to cars or pedestrians using the road. That usually involves emptying a bag of aggregate into any holes that develop and until now everyone's been happy with it.
A while, (a few weeks/months), ago the 'neighbour' whose house sits adjascent to one of the entrys has taken exception to our understanding and placed boulders over the road to stop vehicular access while claiming the land is his. Bottom line is that it's not.
Everyone is sick of it and we now have people turing in our driveways and vehicular movement is difficult because they can't drive in one way and drive out the other, (the road's not that wide.). The lawyers for the estate that own the land are now involved and it was all getting stupid anyway until this................
So last Monday I'd been to that pub and on my way back, I decided to move the boulders. Not displace them, but adjust their position slightly as a prank. Next morning they'd been replaced and that was that.
Then on Friday I'd been out and on my way back figured it would be a giggle to do it again.
To cut a long story short, the householder came storming out of his house claiming that I'd terrified his Wife and Children, (I made little to no noise, so if they knew I was there they'd been watching), and that I'/d no right to move stuff on his land. I tried explaining that it'd been a joke then he went inside his house to put his shoes on.
At that point, I caved and actually displaced the boulders by throwing them about ten feet away off the road.
He came storming back out encouraging me to have a 'square go' and grabbed me by the arm. I removed his grip by brushing his hand away and at that point he hooked me in the jaw. Didn't see it coming.
Right at that point, some of his aquantances pulled up in a car, distracted him and seemed to manage to talk him out of any altercation. He then returned to his house exclaiming something about coming to see my Wife the next day and that was that.
I put my jacket back on, (I'd removed it after he hit me. I don't like confrontation, but I'm damned if I'm going to stand down to that.) returned to my house and after a short conversation with my Wife, called the Police.
They came, and took my details, but I made it absolutely clear that I didn't want to press charges, I just wanted them aware of it in case it escalated.
Now as you can imagine, there's a bit of a frosty atmosphere and it's a shame 'cos he used to be a great neighbour to have until all this boulder b
ks started.
Am I over reacting by calling the Police or would you have done the same thing.
My house, and those 2 - 3 either side of it, are accessed by a private road on land owned by a third party. There are two entry/exits at either end.
So far as it's gone for the last 6 - 7 years is that everyone assumes that the land is not theirs, but it's understood that because we use it for access to our properties each of the householders maintains their section to a standard that ensures no damage is done to cars or pedestrians using the road. That usually involves emptying a bag of aggregate into any holes that develop and until now everyone's been happy with it.
A while, (a few weeks/months), ago the 'neighbour' whose house sits adjascent to one of the entrys has taken exception to our understanding and placed boulders over the road to stop vehicular access while claiming the land is his. Bottom line is that it's not.
Everyone is sick of it and we now have people turing in our driveways and vehicular movement is difficult because they can't drive in one way and drive out the other, (the road's not that wide.). The lawyers for the estate that own the land are now involved and it was all getting stupid anyway until this................
So last Monday I'd been to that pub and on my way back, I decided to move the boulders. Not displace them, but adjust their position slightly as a prank. Next morning they'd been replaced and that was that.
Then on Friday I'd been out and on my way back figured it would be a giggle to do it again.
To cut a long story short, the householder came storming out of his house claiming that I'd terrified his Wife and Children, (I made little to no noise, so if they knew I was there they'd been watching), and that I'/d no right to move stuff on his land. I tried explaining that it'd been a joke then he went inside his house to put his shoes on.
At that point, I caved and actually displaced the boulders by throwing them about ten feet away off the road.
He came storming back out encouraging me to have a 'square go' and grabbed me by the arm. I removed his grip by brushing his hand away and at that point he hooked me in the jaw. Didn't see it coming.
Right at that point, some of his aquantances pulled up in a car, distracted him and seemed to manage to talk him out of any altercation. He then returned to his house exclaiming something about coming to see my Wife the next day and that was that.
I put my jacket back on, (I'd removed it after he hit me. I don't like confrontation, but I'm damned if I'm going to stand down to that.) returned to my house and after a short conversation with my Wife, called the Police.
They came, and took my details, but I made it absolutely clear that I didn't want to press charges, I just wanted them aware of it in case it escalated.
Now as you can imagine, there's a bit of a frosty atmosphere and it's a shame 'cos he used to be a great neighbour to have until all this boulder b
ks started.Am I over reacting by calling the Police or would you have done the same thing.
Big Rod said:
He then returned to his house exclaiming something about coming to see my Wife the next day and that was that..
Maybe he's getting upset about it because those boulders are supposed to delay you, adding some valuable few minutes to the clock so he can bolt it and not have to hide in the closet? 
I jest; fella sounds like a right nobber.
Edited by Heskey on Monday 24th November 10:05
Cara Van Man said:
Fighting over the placing of a boulder?
This is Scotland we are talking about, right?
It does restrict the righteous accesst to our properies though, that's the issue and FWIW, I never raised a hand to him.
Edited by Big Rod on Monday 24th November 10:07
Using my rational head for a minute - how old are you?
Seriously, calling the Police is out of order - you were deliberately antagonising that guy, no matter whether he was in the wrong or not.
Sure he shouldn't have clocked you one, but its not a matter for the BiB.
Grow a pair, and go round and talk to the guy.
Unless you're actually 12, in which case go and wee in his plant pots.
Seriously, calling the Police is out of order - you were deliberately antagonising that guy, no matter whether he was in the wrong or not.
Sure he shouldn't have clocked you one, but its not a matter for the BiB.
Grow a pair, and go round and talk to the guy.
Unless you're actually 12, in which case go and wee in his plant pots.
Beefmeister said:
Using my rational head for a minute - how old are you?
Seriously, calling the Police is out of order - you were deliberately antagonising that guy, no matter whether he was in the wrong or not.
Sure he shouldn't have clocked you one, but its not a matter for the BiB.
Had he not mentioned that he 'was coming round to see my Wife', I don't think I'd have bothered TBH.Seriously, calling the Police is out of order - you were deliberately antagonising that guy, no matter whether he was in the wrong or not.
Sure he shouldn't have clocked you one, but its not a matter for the BiB.
Beefmeister said:
Grow a pair, and go round and talk to the guy.
Done it already BM. He has turned into the neighbour from hell TBH. He seems to be taking the stand that he can do what the hell he wants in the neighbourhood and it's not on. There are other contributing factors, but this is the main one.
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