Ex-policeman in court over conflict with neighbours

Martin McKeown, 54, says he "arrested" his next-door neighbour Michael Barr for breach of the peace, claiming he rushed down his drive towards him shouting abuse.

Mr McKeown says he is the victim of a three-year campaign of harassment and intimidation at the hands of his neighbours, and told a court a community support officer even passed on a threat from one of them.

During the struggle on February 23, Mr Barr's disabled wife Patricia, 52, was knocked to the floor and the couple both made separate complaints to police.

McKeown, a former acting inspector with the West Yorkshire force, whose 24-year career ended when he was injured in the line of duty, is facing a third charge of assault following a complaint by Barry Eyre, the ex-husband of Mr McKeown's other neighbour, Mary Eyre.

He also faces a charge of driving without due care and attention after a collision with her parked car, which preceded the alleged assault.

Mr McKeown, of Clarke Crescent, Bempton, East Yorkshire, is defending himself at his trial at Bridlington Magistrates' Court and denies all the charges.

Yesterday Mrs Barr, 52, claimed McKeown was strangling her husband and also kicked and punched him in the head.

Asked why Mr Barr's injuries did not appear to correspond with such an assault, she said: "My husband is a large gentleman, he doesn't bruise easily."

She said McKeown shouldered her over but witness Nicholas Crozier, 25, said she was knocked over in the struggle.

McKeown asked Mr Barr about the threat the ex-policemen claims was delivered by PCSO Liam Whittington.

McKeown said the PCSO told him: "I've been asked to pass a threat on to you." "He said 'What he's saying is if you continue being a problem with dangerous driving you will have more lights flashing, more music, more noise'."

Mr Barr, 50, replied: "What I said was if I wanted to cause trouble I could do."

The trial continues tomorrow.