Woman from Skegness 'saw red' after years of abuse and punched neighbour

Patricia Joyce Mary Arliss, of Thompson Close, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm on David Rose when she appeared at Boston Magistrates' Court.

Prosecuting, Jim Clare said that in the late morning of February 27, Mr Rose was at home in his flat playing music when there was a bang on the door but there was no one there when he went to answer it.

Mr Clare said he then heard one of his neighbours shout to him about the volume of his music and a neighbour then came out of their flat and 'heated words were exchanged'.

He said that as he was about to return to his flat, Arliss came running towards him and punched him in the mouth, causing two of his teeth to fall out from his top row, and also causing an injury to his bottom lip, causing 'considerable pain and discomfort'.

Mr Clare said that when interviewed by the police, Arliss said she had known Mr Rose for several years and thought he was 'nasty'.

She also alleged he had made 'comments about her' and that she 'saw red' and punched him once in the mouth, which she now regretted.

Mitigating, Phillipa Chatterton said there had been no further offences since February and that Arliss had approached the complainant and apologised and they had shaken hands.

She said Arliss had experienced provocation from 'loud music, noisy visitors and constant homophobic remarks on a daily basis'.

Ms Chatterton said that a 'single punch after years of provocation' had resulted in the loss of her security licence and therefore her job and might also mean she would lose her accommodation.

The magistrates ordered Arliss to undergo 100 hours of unpaid work for the community and ordered her to pay £1,000 compensation to Mr Rose.