A MAN threw a bucket of water over his neighbour after a dispute over a shed got out of hand, a court has heard.

Ashley Griffiths, of Sycamore Avenue, Belmont, admitted assault by beating when he appeared before magistrates.

Prosecutor Peter Love said Griffiths had lived near the victim for around three years, but that a dispute had arisen after he built a shed in his garden.

“The victim says this has caused a noise problem for her due to lots of power tools being used,” Mr Love said.

But the dispute came to a head at 10pm on May 27 after Griffiths and a friend spent the evening working and talking in his shed.

“They then ordered a pizza, but it seems the victim was not happy about the noise and threw water over the fence, which landed on Griffiths, his friend, and the pizza delivery man,” Mr Love said.

“Later, he filled a bucket and went to her house, where he knocked on her door and poured some water through her letterbox. She opened the door, and he threw the water over her.”

Chris Read, for Griffiths, said the 29-year-old’s neighbour had made allegations that the shed was being used for work purposes and excessive noise complaints to the housing association.

“This has been investigated and dismissed,” Mr Read said.

“He and a friend had been using the shed for social reasons, and the victim took it into her head to go into her garden and throw a bucket of water over them.

“He threw water over her in retaliation. This was after weeks, if not months, of provocation.”

Griffiths, of Sycamore Avenue, Belmont, was fined £50. He must also pay costs of £135 and a £34 victim surcharge.