Storm in a plant pot... punches thrown in row over garden tubs

THE friction caused by her large plant pots had long created tension between Angela Williams and her neighbour.

But matters in the quiet cul-de-sac came to a head when she overheard criticism of her display of roses and azaleas.

Williams, 57, flew into a rage and attacked her neighbour’s girlfriend Jasmina Vidovic, punching her in the face four times, a court heard. This week, she was convicted of assault.

Miss Vidovic, who is in her 40s and originally from Bosnia, had been returning with partner Peter Adams to his bungalow in Mudeford, Dorset, when she remarked that the pots, obstructing the path to his back garden, were a hazard.

Williams, who had been in the front garden of her £400,000 bungalow, confronted Miss Vidovic.

Mr Adams, 62, told Poole magistrates. ‘She said “You fat cow” and “Can’t you do better than that, Peter?”. ‘Then suddenly, out of the blue, she hit her four times in the face. I froze because I was shocked.’ When police arrested Williams, she claimed she had acted in self-defence because Miss Vidovic had started ‘mouthing off’ and pointed a finger in her face.

However, magistrates found Williams guilty of assault. They fined her £180 and told her to pay £100 costs as well as a £34 victim surcharge to Miss Vidovic.

Mr Adams, a university lecturer, said the stress caused him to split up with Miss Vidovic. He has moved – and a fence panel has been put up between the bungalows.