Carlisle man attacked neighbour on supermarket car park

But even after he was allowed to walk free from the court with fines and a modest compensation order, 33-year-old Daniel Stevens swore at the judge and demanded: “Where will I get the money from?”

The court had earlier been told how Stevens attacked his neighbour, Ian Furness, punching him on the back of the head, after seeing him by chance in the car park of Morrisons supermarket in Penrith.

The defendant, of York Street in the town, admitted assault by beating and two charges of using threatening behaviour.

At Carlisle’s magistrates’ court, prosecutor Pam Ward described how the victim was in the car park in the afternoon of July 23 when he heard his neighbour’s voice as he said, “When is this going to end?”

As the defendant approached him, Mr Furness asked Stevens what he meant. In response, Stevens said: “If you are hard enough, come on – have a go.”

Mr Furness told the defendant to go away, pointing out that he would call the police if there was trouble.

But as Mr Furness tried to walk away, Stevens rushed up behind him and hit him on the back of the head.

A witness told police he saw the victim attacked from behind as he was looking down at his phone.

Mrs Ward went on to outline the two threatening behaviour offences, the first on the same day as the assault.

On that day, Mr Furness’s wife had been at home in the rear garden when Stevens arrived at the back gate, apparently “in a temper”.

The second threatening behaviour offence happened when Stevens turned up at his victim’s house on July 25, intending to ask whether he would press charges over the earlier assault.

Steven Marsh, for Stevens, said his client was suffering health problems linked to diabetes and this included depression, which had got worse in recent months.

What happened at the Morrisons car park was out of character,” he added.

District Judge Gerald Chalk imposed fines on Stevens of £265, costs of £85, and told the defendant to pay victim compensation of £150.