Neighbour threatened man next door with a spade in noise row...before becoming 'best friends'
Michael Birch threatened his neighbour after a heated row exploded
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A man who threatened his neighbour with a spade has claimed that the pair have become "best friends."
Michael Birch, 58, made the threats to his neighbour over a row about noise.
Leeds Crown Court heard how Birch had become angry about sounds he felt were coming from his neighbours in the Chapel Allerton area of Leeds, West Yorkshire.
The court heard how he wielded the garden tool during a string of incidents between August and September 2022 and "made calls or shouted abuse."
The Chapel Allerton area of Leeds, West Yorkshire
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The Yorkshire Evening Post reports messages were sent by Birch saying that he would "stab the lot" and that he was "going to go down there and break some legs".
Robert Galley, prosecuting, said that Birch was "alleged to have waved a spade" around at the neighbours he believed were the source of his irritation.
On one occasion he called West Yorkshire Police to complain about the noise and "bullying."
However, he became aggressive towards the call handler when being told that police couldn't assist with noise complaints.
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Birch was also heard making threats to his neighbour while on the phone with police.
Ryan Wilson, defending, said Birch "fully accepts his actions and behaviours" and that they stemmed from "stress that he was unable to deal with".
Wilson added that Birch and his neighbours now "go out for meals together" and are on "best friend terms".
Sentencing Birch, Mark McKone KC said: "You need to learn that if you have disagreements with your neighbours then you have to deal with that differently."
Birch pleaded guilty to the two charges of harassment. He sentenced him to a one-year community order and to 20 days of rehabilitation.
He added: "The court wishes you well but equally it's important we don't see you again."