A quiet afternoon in Poundbury, Dorset, erupted into chaos when a row over car noise and exhaust fumes led to a violent confrontation between neighbours.
Sekhar Sootarsing, 69, now faces trial for allegedly hitting his 83-year-old neighbour Ingrid Wright-Holmes during the altercation, which he claims was an act of self-defence.
The Row Over Engine Noise
The incident began when the Wright-Holmes couple, enjoying a glass of wine in their back garden, were disturbed by the engine of Sootarsing’s Ford Mustang running for over 25 minutes, with fumes spilling into their property.
Frustrated, Ingrid and her husband Christopher, 83, walked over to Sootarsing’s flat to ask him to switch it off.
Sootarsing told police that he found Ingrid’s approach confrontational, particularly after she criticised him for the “obnoxious” fumes.
He said he told her to “get stuffed” during the heated exchange, which escalated when Christopher allegedly lifted his walking stick “like a rifle” and struck Sootarsing on the arm and stomach.
Claims of Self-Defence
Sootarsing explained that as he tried to wrestle the walking stick away, Ingrid struck him in the face.
In response, he swung at her with his right hand to push her back and protect himself, accidentally hitting her in the face and causing her to fall to the ground with a bloodied lip.
“I didn’t even look at her. I just lashed out to get her away so I could focus on the walking stick,” Sootarsing said in his police interview, insisting his actions were self-defence.
He denied intending to cause serious harm.
Neighbours Witness the Chaos
Witness accounts painted a tense picture of the moment.
Ukrainian national Ivan Ivanko, who rushed to help upon hearing loud voices, described Sootarsing as “aggressive and dangerous.”
He said he arrived to see Ingrid on the ground, covered in blood, while her husband, who is disabled, was unable to assist her.
Another passerby, Matthew Waters, said he saw Ingrid jabbing her finger at Sootarsing and stepping forward before she fell.
He recalled hearing conflicting claims of assault from both sides, reflecting the chaotic nature of the confrontation.
The Trial Continues
Sootarsing is currently on trial at Bournemouth Crown Court for one count of causing actual bodily harm against Ingrid Wright-Holmes, which he denies.
The case has highlighted how quickly a seemingly minor neighbour dispute over noise and fumes can escalate into violence, leaving both sides blaming each other.
The court will hear more evidence as the trial progresses, with both witnesses and the accused providing their accounts of the tense encounter in Chaseborough Square.