Irate roofer tells Derbyshire pensioner “I’ll stretch you out” during gatepost row

Roofer Joshua Hart was seen “walking very quickly” towards David Burge after the pensioner confronted him about walking along his neighbour’s garden path.

After Mr Burge told Hart he had “no right” to be on the nearby property 25-year-old Hart told him “I don’t care how old you are, I’ll stretch you out”.

Prosecutor Rosanna McDaid told Chesterfield Magistrates Court how during the row Hart’s face was just six inches from the terrified OAP - understood to be in his 80s.

In a statement Mr Burge described feeling “frightened” for his own safety.

As the argument escalated a friend - Roger Bell - came to Mr Burge’s aid - saying: “He’s 80 years old, why don’t you pick on someone your own age and size?”

Mr Bell described how Hart shouted “abusive insults” when he was asked to leave - until police were called and he eventually left the scene.

Hart’s solicitor John Wilford described how the unemployed roofer claimed to be visiting a friend at the time of the heated scene.

He also suffered with an “emotional behaviour disorder” and PTSD - for which he was receiving treatment.

Mr Wilford said: “He accepts that it should not have happened - he felt threatened and acted in a completely unacceptable manner”

Hart, of Meadowhead, Sheffield, admitted two counts of threatening behaviour.

Magistrates adjourned his sentencing pending a probation service report.

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