A Manchester City fan daubed a vile slur about the Munich Air Disaster on his neighbours' fence after discovering they were United supporters, a court has heard.
Michael Hatton, 63, got into a bitter argument with his neighbours - a man and his girlfriend - in the Hollins area of Oldham over a wooden fence he had erected between their front gardens, the court was told.
As the dispute heated up, Hatton painted '58' - a cruel reference to the 1958 Munich air crash which claimed the lives of 23 people, including eight members of the United squad - onto the fence. It was also said that he daubed the words 'City rule OK, 'United are s***' and 'f*** off' with paint.
In another incident, when the couple were accused of playing loud music late at night, Hatton, who works as a painter and decorator and lives with his wife, used his electric drill at 5.45am the next morning to attach 27 screws to the fence. He shouted: "You are going to get this every morning you f****** scum."
Tameside Magistrates' Court was told that Hatton was also heard shouting 'sl**' and 'I hope that lady dies' when the couple had their grandchildren over for a visit. In a statement, the male victim, who is currently selling his house, said he and his partner felt like they had been forced to 'live in hell'.
World Cup hero wants Man Utd move as doubts over Harry Maguire's future grow
He said: "Michael has caused us to live in hell for the last four years. We are terrified of it escalating. We have never retaliated. We desperately want to move so that we do not have to live in fear.", reports the Manchester Evening News.
Hatton was sentenced at Tameside Magistrates' Court (Manchester Evening News)"He wrote offensive remarks which obviously put people off purchasing the house. We are worried about the children getting hurt. We feel that this will only end once we have moved. He is fixated on causing us issues and harassing us."
The male's partner said: "I absolutely hate living here because of him. We have been forced to put the house up for sale to move away. He frightens me because of the kids. I tell my family to be vigilant when going out in the dark in case Michael does something.
"I cannot sit in the garden with my granddaughter. I worry he might throw something over the fence and hurt her. He is violent and aggressive. He genuinely frightens us and makes us feel paranoid. I am constantly checking the garden to see if there is any damage he may have caused overnight. We are living in fear. He has made our life here hell in a short space of time.
Suchitra Goswami, prosecuting, said: "This is a matter involving a neighbour dispute where the defendant has been harassing the neighbours. This started in 2020.
"The victims have complained that the neighbour, the defendant, damaged a fence post which separated the garden between the two addresses. One of the victims states that the damage was done deliberately.
"Before the damage the defendant had installed new fencing on his land. On February 16, the complainant overhears the defendant outside of the rear property saying to another neighbour ‘I hope that lady dies.’
"She also overhears the defendant calling her daughter a 'sl**'. On May 30, the defendant used his drill in the early hours at 5.45 to 6.45 stating ‘you are going to get this every morning you f*****g scum.’
"On June 4, approximately 27 screws were found in the fence between the neighbours’ properties. The screws were approximately 1.5 inches long. There was no reason for those to be put there.
The Munich Air Disaster killed 23 people, including eight Manchester United players, in 1958 (Alan Martin/Colorsport/REX/Shutterstock)"For another incident on May 20, the complainant states that they returned home to find offensive writing written on the fence, visible on their side of the garden. The defendant is aware that the victims are Manchester United fans where the defendant is a Manchester City fan.
Marcus Rashford makes tongue-in-cheek joke after being dropped by Erik ten Hag
"On the fence he wrote, ‘City rule OK. United are s*** and f*** off' and ‘58’. He states that the 58 was a reference to the 1958 Munich air disaster involving a number of United players who died. This was prolonged period of causing maximum distress to the victims. They have clearly suffered."
The court heard that Hatton has a history of 14 offences, including battery. His lawyer, Mohamed Patel insisted tensions between the neighbours have since 'settled down'. Mr Patel said: "It is a sad situation. Ordinarily one would expect neighbours to live well together. Initially they were living well together and helping each other out.
"But the issues began in 2020 when the gentleman found a new relationship with his current partner and relationship between the neighbours got a bit sour. Music started being played a bit loud and that saw the relationship going into a downfall.
"It is always difficult with neighbour disputes. Each party thinks that they are in the right but he fully accepts responsibility for this offence.
"While I accept it is an ongoing dispute which goes back to 2020, this offence dates from 2023. There have been no further offences since June 2023, no further reports from either party to police. There have been no further issues. I would submit that things have settled down between the two neighbours."
Mr Patel said Hatton was upset because his neighbour took down some old fencing after he put up new posts, and he reacted to their loud music, He explained: "In relation to the drilling the night before the neighbours were playing loud music and it was a reaction to that.
"He fully accepts that he should not have done this. There have been no further developments or further issues. I understand that the neighbours’ house has been sold. It is just a matter of time before they move out."
Hatton pleaded guilty of causing trouble between Feb 15 and June 4 of last year. He got a six-month community punishment with 15 days of special activities with the probation service.
He also had to pay £100 as fine, as well as £199 in charges. Also, a restraining order for two years was put in place, stopping Hatton from going near his neighbours or stepping onto their property.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
