Car-parking feud between Sheffield neighbours led to slashing attack

Trouble started when Jakir Liton gave his neighbour a "cheesy smile" and gestured with his middle finger, from the window of his home on Halsall Drive, at around 1.30pm, on February 28, 2018.

"His neighbour asked him to come outside and talk to solve the issues," said Richard Veni, prosecuting, at Sheffield Crown Court, on Friday.

Abuse was exchanged before the pair began pushing, kicking and punching each other, and Liton knocked his neighbour's spectacles off, causing him to fall over.

A 16-year-old witness saw Liton run after his victim with a weapon, lunge at him twice, then swipe once, with "substantial blows using his full body weight."

Liton's neighbour's clothing was ripped, but the only injury was a red lump on the left side of his chest, the court heard.

He denied having a weapon and claimed his neighbour had started the fight, but admitted punching the man in the stomach, said Mr Veni.

Liton's neighbour had since moved away from the area, he added. In a statement, the man said he would "never be able to forget the incident and has been mentally scarred."

Amy Earnshaw, mitigating, said tensions between the two over parking had been going on for some time.

"The complainant would block the defendant's drive, preventing him and his wife from being able to remove their vehicles," she said. "He knows his actions were wholly inappropriate."

She said Liton, was a married father-of-two and a chef at Chutney Spice, who was "incredibly well-respected in the local community" and “involved in numerous social and youth activities, as well as fundraising.”

Liton, 36, of previous good character, pleaded guilty to affray and possession of an offensive weapon, before a trial last year.

Deputy circuit judge Robert Moore told Liton his claim that he used a screwdriver that had fallen from his victim's pocket was "a 13th hour attempt to shift responsibility."

He told him: "He was saved by his thick winter clothing. Without that he would be severely injured."

Liton received seven and a half months in prison.