A 27-year-old who was trying to phone police to report a crash was run over by his neighbour, a court heard.

Paul Taylor, 31, drove straight into his neighbour's car because he was angry about being blocked in.

Then as Russell Andrews rang the police on his mobile phone, Taylor ran him down while his back was turned.

Harwich Magistrates on Monday convicted Taylor, of Church Street, Langham, of careless driving, failing to stop after an accident and criminal damage. He was fined £275 and told to pay £475 compensation.

The court heard how on May 18, Mr Andrews, who now lives in Great Yeldham, moved his VW Golf car into the road to check the oil. Within minutes he was asked to move.

Mr Andrews agreed to move but drove back to find what Taylor meant. He told the court: "He carried on reversing straight into my vehicle.

"I said: 'You've damaged my car'. He sniggered and said: 'Do you want me to hit it harder?'"

The court heard that Mr Andrews then rang police. Mr Andrews said: "I had just got through and I was hit by his car. It hit my left leg and it threw me back and across. He drove back down the cul-de-sac." Mr Andrews suffered grazes and bruising.

Taylor dismissed Andrews' accusations as "fabrications", adding that his former neighbour had jumped on to his car before.

Taylor, who has separated from his wife since the incident, said: "He said I had hit his car, but I did not really acknowledge him because I did not think it would be wise.

"He walked across the road and jumped on my car. He was in an agitated mood."

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