A LINGERING neighbour’s dispute was played out on the road, when both parties came together as they were driving in the same direction, a court heard.

The background to the incident was said to have been a previous confrontation in which Anthony Edward Etherington damaged his neighbour’s car.

Durham Crown Court heard that Etherington received a 12-month conditional discharge, with orders to pay £85 costs and £1,000 compensation, after admitting criminal damage at magistrates’ court, on April 14.

Paul Abrahams, prosecuting, said four days later the neighbour was driving southbound on the A68 from Witton-le-Wear to Toft Hill, near Bishop Auckland, at about 4.15pm when a Vauxhall Jetta in front suddenly slowed from 60 to 40mph.

But it then sped up and swerved from side-to-side, preventing the car behind from overtaking.

Mr Abrahams said the occupiers of the car recognised Etherington as the driver of the Jetta, which at one stage came to a halt at an angle across the road, “effectively blocking both lanes”.

The neighbour did manage to get past, but Etherington repeated the action, prompting the passenger in the other car to ring 999 and give, “a running commentary” to the call handler as the driver made for Bishop Auckland Police Station.

The incident, said to have taken place over about a kilometre distance, resulted in Etherington’s arrest, after which he gave “no comment” replies to police questions.

Fifty-one-year-old Etherington, was said to have a number of convictions, several for motoring offences, but mainly dating from the 1980s and 90s.

He admitted a charge of dangerous driving on the day of a scheduled trial before magistrates and the case was sent to the crown court for sentencing.

Stephen Hamill, for Etherington, said the motoring incident stemmed from the previous confrontation.

“There was certainly no love lost between the defendant and the complainant in this case.

“But he would like to communicate to the court how he’s deeply embarrassed for allowing his anger to get the better of him during this unseemly exchange.”

Mr Hamill said Etherington, of Red Houses, High Etherley, near Bishop Auckland, has been offered new accommodation away from the village, which should help put an end to the conflict.

Imposing an eight-month prison, suspended for a year, Judge Simon Hickey ordered Etherington to undergo 15-days of rehabilitation activities, supervised by the Probation Service, and to pay £500 costs.

He was also banned from driving for 18 months and is also subject of a restraining order forbidding him from approaching of contacting his neighbour for ten years.