Colchester: Neighbour facing assault charge cleared

Trouble between Amalia Clemens and Greta Clampin flared last summer after a long-running dispute over a right of way between their adjoining houses in Colchester, the court heard.

Mrs Clemens, 57, accused Mrs Clampin of damaging a six foot high fence with a hammer while Mrs Clampin was upset over a gate which had been installed by Mrs Clemens, Chelmsford Crown Court heard on Thursday.

During a confrontation on June 5 last year, pensioner Mrs Clampin broke her wrist and received bruising when the latest incident between the two took place, a jury was told.

Mrs Clemens, who has now moved to Mile End Road, Colchester, denied and was cleared of causing Mrs Clampin actual bodily harm following a short trial. The verdict was unanimous.

Following the verdict, Mrs Clemens was formally discharged by the court.

The court heard Mrs Clampin had a right of way between her Bergholt Road home and the former home of Mrs Clemens next door.

A number of incidents involving the right of way led to police being called and one result of this was Mrs Clemens building a six foot high fence on her own property as she claimed Mrs Clampin used to stare at her.

She also claimed Mrs Clampin had followed her to the shops on ocassions and had made her life a "nightmare", the court heard.

The confrontation last summer took place after Mrs Clemens installed a gate with a lock on it. Both women exchanged words and Mrs Clampin was alleged to have been pushed to the ground by Mrs Clemens.

Mrs Clemens told the jury Mrs Clampin injured herself while hitting the fence and said she had never pushed her.

Earlier, Mrs Clampin told the court the claims made by Mrs Clemens were "a pack of lies" and she had always been reasonable over the right of way.

She denied using a hammer to damage the fence and said Mrs Clemens had made up her claims.

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