Man attacked neighbour with vacuum cleaner in row

David Cleator was sentenced at Douglas Courthouse

A man who hit his neighbour over the head with a vacuum cleaner attachment following a row over parking has been handed a suspended sentence.

David Cleator was preparing to go to work when his neighbour approached him and the two started shouting at each other on Snugborough Avenue, Union Mills.

Cleator claimed he believed his neighbour was going to attack him when he hit him over the head with the attachment, which was in his work van, rugby tackled him to the ground and punched him three times in the head.

The 41-year-old was handed a 15 month sentence suspended for two years for causing actual bodily harm following the incident on 2 December last year.

Douglas Courthouse heard Cleator, who now lives in Ramsey, put the man in the recovery position and placed the victim's phone on a nearby step.

'Left with scars'

He then attempted to leave the scene in his van but was blocked by the victim's partner, so used his girlfriend's car to drive to work before he was arrested in the Creg-ny-Baa area.

Cleator pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm but claimed it was self-defence.

Deemster Graeme Cook accepted that basis of plea, but added: "Had it ended there you would not be sitting here today.

"But then you rugby tackled him to the ground and punched him two or three times in the head."

The victim said he had been left with scars on his forehead and a split lip.

He said he had also been scarred both physically and mentally, was "scared to leave his own home" and the scars on his forehead meant "every time I look in the mirror it reminds me of the horrific incident".

Cleator was also ordered to pay £250 in costs and £1,000 compensation.