Man, 71, threatened his neighbour with a sword, court hears

Noel Rhone, of Towers Avenue, Deane, had been in an altercation with his neighbour, Bolton Crown Court was told.

The defendant was charged with affray in December of last year, which Rhone pleaded guilty to.

The neighbour and Rhone had been keeping up a friendship until last year, the court was told.

Prosecuting, Katie Durham said this coincided with the neighbour getting into a “same sex relationship”, which caused the rupture in the neighbours’ friendship.

She said Rhone had disputes with the neighbour over parking issues, “namely visitors parking in front of or next to his property”, resulting in the neighbour parking down the street.

On December 2, 2025, a visitor parking near Rhone’s address had made him “lose his temper”.

The neighbours were arguing over parking at the time of the incident, when Rhone lunged at her neck and then pushed her, she then kicked him to the ground “in self-defence” and walked off.

Once he got back up, he went inside his property and came back out with a sword, coming towards his neighbour saying “I will chop your head off.”

The sword was likened to a “katana”.

The defendant got into the passenger seat of a van and threatened to chop her head off when he came back.

Defending, Peter Gilmour said the defendant was suffering from emotional issues at the time, including a family member diagnosed with cancer, and the loss of his parents.

Mr Gilmour said that Rhone has grown-up children and grandchildren, as well as being in “good character” for all of his life.

Judge Benjamin Lawrence said Rhone had used an offensive slur against the neighbour and Rhone also said she was the problem.

Judge Lawrence added: “In an argument you shouted, she called you a bully, you lunged at her neck then you pushed her, she feared for her life, and you left a small cut.

“She kicked you to the floor and walked away, and after you picked up a sword and threatened to chop her head off and put her windows through.

“Residents were also present.”

Rhone was sentenced to 14 months suspended for 18 months.

The judge said he handed down a suspended sentence due to Rhone, having a family and of usual good character.

Rhone also has to serve 100 hours of unpaid work, as well pay a fine of £500 to be paid back at £100 a month, as he is receiving a pension.

Judge Lawrence said: “You should not have been here in the first place; do not come back here again.”