'Nasty' South Shields neighbour sentenced for car attack

Graham Edmond was sentenced at Newcastle Crown Court

A man who made his neighbours' lives "hell", and attacked a car with a six-year-old boy inside, has been warned by a judge to turn his life around.

Graham Edmond, 41, blighted the lives of people on Bronte Way, in South Shields, with his drunken outbursts, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

He was sentenced to 19 weeks in jail after admitting two offences, but the sentence was suspended after Edmond vowed to overcome his alcoholism.

A restraining order was also imposed.

Edmond and his partner at the time had caused "nothing but problems" since moving into Bronte Way, victims of their anti-social behaviour said, in a statement.

On 24 August 2022, a neighbouring couple and their son had gone out for a family meal, but when they drove towards their home, at about 21:00 BST, they saw Edmond and his then-partner walking towards them shouting, prosecutor Jane Foley said.

Edmond shouted he was going to "kill" them and began banging on the car where their child was seated, terrifying the young boy.

The family drove away to a nearby street, but Edmond and the woman pursued them, with Edmond using a metal bar to hit the car.

'Fear'

The frightened family drove away, with police arriving a short time later. Officers were met by other neighbours claiming Edmond was threatening to damage other cars.

Ms Foley said Edmond confronted police in a "very aggressive" manner, shouting he would "batter" them as he was held to the ground by an officer and a neighbour.

As he was led away in cuffs, Foley spat at neighbours, with his spit hitting one of the officers escorting him, the court heard.

In a statement, the family targeted by Edmond said he, and the woman, had been "abusive" since moving in - and the family had lived in "fear of further issues and violence". They said they had stopped their son from playing in the garden as a result of the behaviour.

In mitigation, the court heard Edmond, who has 50 convictions for 85 offences, was keen to overcome his drink problem, which lay at the root of most of his offending.

'Disgusting'

The court heard he would most likely be homeless upon his release from HMP Durham, where he was being held on remand, but he would be offered help and support by the probation service and alcohol specialists.

Mr Recorder Nicholas Worsley KC told Edmond: "You will kill yourself if you continue drinking like this."

The judge said Edmond made his neighbours' lives "hell" and carried out a "nasty" attack which left a family and their young son "understandably terrified".

He said Edmond's conduct towards the police was "disgusting", and warned him breaching court orders would land him back in prison.

Edmond's 19 weeks' sentence was suspended for 18 months - with a community order and alcohol rehabilitation requirements - after admitting a public order offence and assaulting an emergency worker.

The restraining order bans him indefinitely from contacting the family or entering Bronte Way.

Edmond told the court: "I need the help, I'm getting too old, aren't I?"

The judge told him: "This is your opportunity, grab it with both hands."