A man soaked a neighbour’s open-topped convertible with a hosepipe as a row over parking in a quiet cul-de-sac turned nasty, a court was told

Kirklees magistrates heard today that Jeremy Hoyle, 43, allegedly waged a hate campaign on Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator Chris O’Brien.

The court was told Hoyle was upset that Huddersfield businessman Mr O’Brien didn’t take his complaint about a van parked near his home in Holmebank Mews, Brockholes, seriously enough.

He sent a letter to neighbours attacking Mr O’Brien and was then caught on CCTV drenching his Audi A4 convertible with water, causing £1,000 damage.

Magistrates were told cameras around Mr O’Brien’s home also captured Hoyle casually scraping his car keys down the side of a Vauxhall Astra SRi belonging to Mr O’Brien’s wife Melissa.

Matters came to a head when Hoyle, now of Kaye Lane, Almondbury, sent a poison pen letter to neighbours and parents of the O’Brien’s four-year-old daughter making reference to his background, leaving him upset and distressed.

Chris O'Brien arriving at court

Hoyle denied harassment between April last year and January this year and two charges of criminal damage in May last year.

The case continues.