A vicious dispute ended in a man hurling a tin of paint at his neighbour's dog during a row.
Robert Kawinski, a former naval officer, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court for sentencing after pleading guilty to a charge of common assault on his neighbour, Helen Willingham. He was accompanied by an interpreter.
The court heard that Kawinski, 61, and Ms Willingham both lived in flats at a One Vision housing association property in Laurel Road, Kensington. On the morning of October 14, 2020, Ms Willingham was returning home after taking her Yorkshire terrier for a walk, when she caught sight of Kawinski standing on a first floor balcony.
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Prosecutor Cecilia Pritchard told the court: "He was screaming and pointing his finger towards her. She couldn't understand what he was saying apart from hearing the words 'f***' and 'dog.'
"He picked up a can of paint and threw it towards her. It bounced off her dog before hitting a van parked on the road and landing on the floor.
"As a result the dog ended up with a small cut to the head."
When police were called and Kawinski was arrested, he accepted throwing the can but later asserted it had fallen off the balcony by accident.
Callum Ross, defending, said Kawinski had mobility issues and also had limited financial means as he was in receipt of benefits.
Kawinski, who was heard muttering to his Polish interpreter during the sentencing hearing, was reprimanded by Judge Gary Woodhall for shaking his head throughout the proceedings.
He told him: "You are not doing yourself any favours by appearing to undermine that guilty plea. You need to accept what you did and own it.
"Whatever the background to this regarding neighbourly disputes, none of that can justify your doing what you did. You settle ongoing concerns through the appropriate channels.
"You are not the victim in this case and it's clear to me you are someone who struggles to control your emotions, not only on the basis of the probation officer's assessment and how you behaved in interview, but on my own observations when you pleaded guilty and today."
Judge Woodhall handed Kawinski a 12-month community order, with a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 20 days. He was also fined £450, and a restraining order to prevent him making any contact with Ms Willingham was imposed for five years.
