Devon Neighbour Dispute Escalates into Bat Attack

A Devon woman has been convicted of assaulting her neighbour with a rounders bat.

Charlotte Taylor, 41, of Hillside Drive, Okehampton, admitted the following offences when she appeared recently at Exeter Magistrates' Court:

• Assault occasioning actual bodily harm, an offence under section 47 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861, which has a maximum sentence of 12 months' custody on summary conviction; 5 years' custody on conviction on indictment;
• Possession of an offensive weapon in a public place, an offence under section 1 of the Prevention of Crime Act 1953, which has a maximum sentence of 12 months' custody on summary conviction; 4 years' custody on conviction on indictment;
• Common assault, an offence under section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, which has a maximum sentence of 26 weeks' custody on summary conviction.

Magistrates heard that matters between the neighbours came to ahead on the evening of Tuesday, 12th May 2026, when the complainant began taking photographs of rubbish piled outside Taylor's property.

The complainant shouted "you've got rats", which resulted in Taylor exiting the property with a rounders bat and striking her twice.

The complainant managed to record the incident on her mobile phone, before Taylor knocked the device out of her hand.

The court heard that the dispute had been ongoing for the last two years. The complainant has since been evicted by her housing association landlord.

Taylor's unnamed solicitor, mitigating, said that her children had previously faced abuse from the complainant. The situation had also been inflamed by the complainant turning up to Taylor's property on the evening in question.

The solicitor added that her client was remorseful, saying "She understands that this behaviour was wrong. This was the straw that broke the camel's back."

Magistrates were of the view that Taylor's crime was so serious that only a custodial sentence was appropriate. However, in line with recently changes to legislation, they elected to suspend the custodial term.

She was sentenced to 26 weeks' custody for assault occasioning actual bodily harm and 26 weeks' concurrent for possession of an offensive weapon. Both were suspended for a period of 12 months.

She was also ordered to pay £154 surcharge and £85 towards prosecution costs.

The court also considered it necessary and proportionate to make Taylor subject to a restraining order, although the details have not been reported.