British Turf War: Heel Thy Neighbor and Pay the Price
A woman accused of walking her dog in a sly and vindictive manner across her neighbors’ lawn has agreed to pay compensation.
“This is what could be described as a neighbors’ dispute that had got out of hand,” John McCann, the prosecuting counsel, told magistrates Friday.
The court in Solihull, a suburb of Birmingham, heard that Winifred Burrows, 71, and Lillian Priddy, 74, had discovered holes in the lawn bordering their prize-winning garden. So they staked out the yard one February night and said they saw Judith Abercrombie, 48, strutting across their grass in high-heeled shoes.
When confronted, McCann said, “Mrs. Abercrombie said to her dog: ‘Come on, let’s go back and do it again.’ ”
Priddy and Burrows called the police, who came to Abercrombie’s home and asked her to come to the station. “No chance,” she allegedly responded, and was arrested.
Abercrombie agreed to pay 50 pounds, about $78, compensation to the sisters and to post a bond of 200 pounds, about $310, to keep the peace for two years.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
