Binge-drinking OAP brandished knife at neighbours

Carol Tilley waved a kitchen knife at a neighbour

Carol Tilley, 68, argued with neighbours Tanya Guest and Brian Gibbs over youngsters playing on open land.

Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court heard the OAP, of Haywood Road, Havant, fetched a rusty carving knife after rowing with the pair.

In a statement read by prosecutor Graham Heath, victim Ms Guest said she is on edge and feels she has to protect her sons from Tilley.

‘I don’t feel safe living near her,’ Ms Guest said.

‘She targets the boys. It’s emotionally upsetting – she’s accusing them of things. My boys have disabilities and it upsets them.’

She added: ‘I can’t afford to move and like the area and our other neighbours.’

The court heard that the youngsters now worry about going outside.

Mr Heath added when Tilley had the knife she said she was ‘going to put it in him’ to Mr Gibbs.

Bill Charlton, for Tilley, said: ‘It was unlikely the threat would be carried out.’

A more serious charge of threatening the neighbours was dropped as Tilley claimed she was at her front door 100 yards away from the victims at the time. The court heard police had not told prosecutors what the distance actually was.

Mr Heath said: ‘The defendant went into her property and came out with what’s referred to as a large kitchen knife or carving knife and made various threats.’

Tilley was arrested and told police in an interview she had known the victims for about three years and had ‘never got on’ with Mr Gibbs.

She also told police she was drunk at the time of the incident on April 17.

Tilley interrupted the hearing, saying: ‘I put guilty to what I done but I’m not going to have lies thrown at me.’

The court heard Tilley has problems with Mr Gibbs as she said he put his head against hers and threatened her on a previous occasion.

Tilley admitted possession of a bladed article and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear or provoke violence.

Mr Charlton added Tilley has problems with vodka and is a binge-drinker. She will be sentenced on May 24.