A CARAVAN site boss attacked an "eco warrior" neighbour with a spade in a row over a roaming stray dog, a court heard.

Michael Fairless, 40, left Timothy Spencer with a broken wrist and chased and threatened him, after Mr Spencer had taken in the lost boxer dog, Burnley Crown Court was told.

Fairless, of Prospect Farm, Lenches Road, Colne, whose barrister dubbed Mr Spencer an eco warrior with "swampy" sympathies, denies causing grievous bodily harm with intent and assault causing actual bodily harm, last November.

Julian Taylor, prosecuting, told the jury Mr Spencer, who lived in a caravan at Prospect Farm, had found the dog and kept it with the approval of police until its owner could be found. Two days later, the animal left Mr Spencer's caravan and walked off to the top of the field towards the defedant's caravan.

Mr Spencer went to Fairless' caravan and knocked on the door, asking for the dog. The defendant picked up a spade, shouted and became aggressive. When Mr Spencer again asked for the animal, Fairless began to hit him with the spade. Mr Spencer ran off, chased by the defendant. Mr Spencer went to the caravan of Peter Scott, the owner of his site and the defendant followed, still threatening and waving the space around. Fairless was told the police were going to be called and the defendant smashed the telephone with the spade.

Mr Taylor said Mr Spencer was taken to hospital, where an X-ray revealed a broken wrist. Fairless was arrested and taken to Colne police station.

The defendant claimed the dog had been wandering around the site for two days and when Mr Spencer's girlfriend had gone to his caravan, he told her he had tied the animal up. Mr Spencer then appeared, demanded the dog back and tried to force his way into the caravan. Fairless claimed he had then picked up a "shovel," told him to go and "tapped" him a couple of times on the leg with the shovel.

Fairless denied chasing Mr Spencer and said he used reasonable force to eject the complainant from the caravan. He added he had gone to Mr Scott's caravan to complain about the dog wandering around the site.

(Proceeding)

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