My neighbour tried to block me in but instead crashed into my car – now I’ve got justice

A DELIVERY driver has found himself in court after crashing into his neighbour's car while trying to block it in.

Marin Bogdan, 33, damaged the Ford Fiesta with his MPV after he "lost his composure" amid a raging parking war.

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Bogdan, from Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, was attempting to park between two cars to prevent his neighbour driving out easily, when he scraped the side of her motor on the morning of February 13.

The victim also claimed that he drove at her as she called 999, forcing her to leap out of the way.

Prosecutor Suzanne Swindail told North Staffordshire Justice Centre: "He drove towards the end of the cul-de-sac and reversed into his victim's car, even though there was adequate room to perform a three-point turn.

"It caused her Ford Fiesta to shunt backwards.

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"There was superficial damage to the nearside wing and bumper.

"She called 999. While she was on the phone to the police he drove the vehicle towards her causing her to move out of the way."

Bogdan was arrested at the scene, but blamed the "unintentional" damage on his car being automatic and jumping forward when he released the brake.

However, he admitted causing the scrape and pleaded guilty to driving without due care and attention.

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In mitigation, his lawyer Tacarat Hussain told the court: "He attempted to park between two vehicles. He misjudged that and scraped the other vehicle. He accepts that the damage was as a result.

"Once he was unable to park in that spot he has moved forward. He has not driven directly at the complainant. If that was the case we would be looking at dangerous driving.

"He has not deliberately driven at her. He accepts his driving fell below that of a competent driver."

Hussain added that Bogdan accepted that he had "lost his composure" and that the court case would be a "costly lesson" for him.

Bogdan, who has not completed a course to become a taxi driver, was handed six penalty points and ordered to pay £461 in costs.