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Neighbours' dispute boils over

Pat Spencer has been given a caution for assault
Pat Spencer has been given a caution for assault

by Jenni Horn
jhorn@thekmgroup.co.uk

They used to be friends, but for the past two years pensioner Pat Spencer and her next-door neighbour Colin Mosdell have been at war.

The pair fell out when Miss Spencer, 69, applied for planning permission to breed dogs at her home in Tanglewood Close, Wigmore.

i've never been so frightened in my life’

retired clerk miss spencer said she feels let down by the police.

she added: "getting arrested was an awful experience. i felt terrible.

"i was locked up in a cell and i even had to take my shoes off and leave them outside.

"i've never been so frightened in my life. i felt so alone. i couldn't stop crying."

police said officers from her local neighbourhood police team have been speaking to miss spencer and mr mosdell in an attempt to mediate.

pc sue chapman said: "officers from kent police, including staff from the neighbourhood policing unit and the anti-social behaviour team, have been working closely with other agencies to help deal with the ongoing issues between miss spencer and her neighbours.

"we have met with miss spencer on a number of occasions and hope that a resolution will be reached," she added.

Her application was turned down after several people in the street objected, but the decision was then overturned following an appeal.

Since then Miss Spencer and Mr Mosdell, who is thought to be in his 60s, have clashed on several occasions.

They have argued over parked cars, rubbish and Mr Mosdell's security cameras, which Miss Spencer claims are directed at her garden.

The latest row between the pair is over the dividing wall between their two bungalows, which needs to be knocked down and rebuilt.

Miss Spencer claims she had to call the police when hanging baskets were removed from her side of the wall.

They were later left in her front garden, she says.

Police officers were called again when tensions erupted on Sunday, May 15. A dispute erupted over her hen house and Miss Spencer hit Mr Mosdell's hands with a broom.

She was arrested on suspicion of common assault and held at Medway Police Station for almost seven hours.

Miss Spencer was released on bail and has now been given a police caution.

Her daughter, Tracy Hines, said: "My mum has been treated like a criminal.

"She doesn't deserve it. She was just trying to protect her property.

"She was put in the back of a police car and humiliated in front of all her neighbours. She has never been in trouble with the police before.

"Mum has called the police on a number of occasions, but they don't seem to be listening to her."

Mr Mosdell has not responded to the Medway Messenger's repeated requests for comment.

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