A COURT showed mercy to a husband who defied a driving ban after hearing how a neighbourhood dispute had left his wife a virtual prisoner in her own home.

Magistrates heard how the incident marked the culmination of a long-running dispute between fork-lift truck driver Edward Green and next door nieghbour Amanda Cheadle.

The court, in Harrogate, heard how over a six-month period the Greens had received pornography and hate mail; their car had been damaged; the parking bay outside their home was continually blocked; and that they were subjected to verbal abuse.

Mrs Green had a special parking area outside the house in Bondgate Green Lane, Ripon, because she was registered disabled and could not walk far.

Defence solicitor Geoffrey Rogers said that the dispute came to a head on February 14 when the Greens had been out to rent a video.

When they returned, a car and van belonging to the Cheadles were taking up part of the bay and despite trying to get into it four or five times, Mrs Green failed.

She became upset and tearful, and her neck began to hurt her more so she begged her husband to park the car.

As he did, reluctantly and with difficulty, he was photographed by the neighbours' son.

Afterwards, Mrs Green was taken to Harrogate District Hospital with chest pains. She was detained for several days with a suspected heart attack.

Sarah Tyrer, prosecuting, said Mr Green was banned from the roads for three years in January 2000 for drink-driving. He had gone to the police station and admitted parking.

Mrs Cheadle later made a statement saying she had seen him reverse into the parking bay and had got her son to take pictures of the incident.

However, magistrates took the view that he had been provoked and decided to show mercy when he appeared before them yesterday to plead guilty to driving while disqualified and uninsured.

Presiding magistrate Nan-cy Scruton told Mr Green he had been provoked and put in a difficult situation. She gave him a six-month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay costs of £69, but said his ban would not be extended.

Mr Rogers said the couples' difficulties were not over as their neighbours had pulled out of an intended move.

"It is to be hoped for everyone's sake that they move on," he said. "Mrs Green is now virtually a prisoner in her own home. She will not go out on her own."