Surfleet pensioner drove into neighbour following boundary dispute

A pensioner used his van to attack his next-door-neighbour following a boundary dispute.

During a court hearing on Wednesday (March 12), magistrates were shown a video of 69-year-old Garry Giessler getting behind the wheel and knocking victim Anthony Cartwright to the floor.

Prosecutor Lottie Tyler explained there had been a four years of ‘animosity’ between the neighbours over land at their Surfleet properties, which came to a head on June 30 of last year as Mr Cartwright was carrying out work at his home.

“He started breaking concrete up on his own drive as he wanted to cause as little a problem as possible,” she told Boston Magistrates’ Court.

“A few minutes later the defendant came out to the back garden to see what he was doing.

“The victim noticed the defendant get into his van. He turned the engine on and revved it.

“He turned the wheel towards him and lunged the van forward, knowing the victim was directly in front of the van.

“He drove forwards and hit him and he (Mr Cartwright) fell backwards.”

Ms Tyler added Giessler - who listened to proceedings from a public gallery chair due to a recent knee operation - drove the van at ‘a couple of miles per hour, at least’ which was enough to cause the victim to ‘lose balance’.

A victim statement read out in court said Mr Cartwright had felt ‘intimidated’ and ‘uneasy’ by his neighbour’s actions, and had felt the need to install CCTV cameras at his home.

Ms Tyler also confirmed that South Holland District Council had previously visited the properties to verify the boundary line.

Defending Giessler, who received a conditional discharge following an assault conviction in 2023, Michele Cheadle told the court the ongoing feud was ‘six of one and half a dozen of the other’ between the two parties.

“This isn’t one-sided, but he took the wrong action in his vehicle,” she said.

“He (the victim) suffered no physical harm.

“He (Giessler) is suffering and has been to the doctors and is on medicine due to the neighbours and their behaviour.”

Giessler, of Low Gate, Surfleet, pleaded guilty to assault by beating.

Due to his conviction, magistrates had the powers to ban Giessler from driving, but Ms Cheadle argued her client needed his vehicle to get to daytime physiotherapy sessions in Peterborough following his operation.

Giessler was fined £200 and ordered to pay £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.

Magistrates stated a driving ban would have been ‘disproportionate’ and that requests for a restraining order would be impractical, unworkable and lead to further conflict’ due to the proximity of their homes.