...By Gift BADEWO for TDPel Media.
A bitter dispute over ‘overhanging’ tree branches culminated in a woman, dubbed as the ‘neighbour from hell’, being captured on camera ruthlessly chopping down her next-door neighbour’s trees while dressed in her gown.
The incident, which stirred local tension and resulted in legal repercussions, illustrates the lengths to which neighborhood feuds can escalate.
Unsettling CCTV Footage
Caught in the act on CCTV, 55-year-old Julie Bontoft was seen angrily lopping off branches from a tree adjacent to her Hessle home on Beverley Road.
On a separate occasion, Bontoft, appearing ‘possessed’, launched an attack on the trees before glaring at the camera and making a face.
A fellow neighbour described her actions as spiteful and accused her of spreading ‘misery’ throughout the area.
The Aftermath of a Neighborhood Feud
The dispute took such a toll that it partially prompted the tree’s owner to move away from the neighborhood, according to a local source.
Legal proceedings revealed that Bontoft had caused damage to six trees, collectively valued at £210, within a span of two weeks from February 19 to March 6, 2021.
Prosecutor James Byatt presented CCTV footage to the court, demonstrating Bontoft breaching the boundary to break off tree branches ‘without lawful excuse’.
Bontoft’s Defense and Verdict
Despite the visual evidence, Bontoft insisted that she merely pushed ‘overhanging branches’ back onto her neighbour’s property, without breaking any branches or infringing on their land.
However, the video clearly demonstrated her utilizing a tool to damage the trees separating their driveways.
Despite her denial of criminal damage and assertion that the trees were ‘overhanging her property’, Hull Magistrates Court found Bontoft guilty.
She received a 12-month conditional discharge and was fined £620.
Community Reaction
Local residents expressed relief at the court’s decision. One resident, speaking to the Hull Daily Mail, noted: ‘It was clear from the video she was doing it out of spite and she looked possessed when she looked into the camera.’
The resident added, ‘She is just the neighbour from hell and it’s good to see her with a criminal record after her behaviour was caught on camera.’
