'Noisy neighbour' cleared of manslaughter after row broke out with man next door

The court held that the actions of Skowronski had led to Woods bringing court proceedings against his neighbour.

Woods had claimed that Skowronski's actions had left him feeing threatened and frightened.

Events then came to a head on the afternoon of June 5, when Woods confronted the defendant in the street near his home.

Shortly after the confrontation, the 66-year-old rang 999 reporting that he had been assaulted.

Woods had a long-standing heart condition and high blood pressure, the court heard.

Emergency services attended the scene, but were unable to resuscitate him.

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Skowronski was facing charges of manslaughter, assault and affray - on a separate occasion earlier that day - but he denied them all.

The 32-year-old, who was represented by Gordon Aspden KC, denied being criminally responsible for the death of Woods.

But Steven Bailey, prosecuting, had alleged that Skowronski was a noisy neighbour whose actions in disturbing his neighbours, some of them elderly, led to the death of Woods.

Jurors however cleared Skowronski of manslaughter and assault, but convicted him of affray.

The incident of affray involved Skowronski behaving in a threatening and intimidating manner towards a woman in a car by pretending to kick her car and by punching her car window, causing her to fear for her safety.

The jurors reached their verdict after being asked to consider if they were sure Skowronski had physically struck Woods or not.

Skowronski has been remanded in custody until sentencing on April 8, after Judge Simon Hirst adjourned for the preparation of reports.

Police say Woods's family have asked for their privacy to be respected.