Pensioner, 72, who was obsessed with people parking across his driveway is jailed for six years after he stabbed motorist with hunting knife

  • Frederick Day attacked Brandon Luther in village of Stoke St Gregory, Somerset
  • Day was angry with people repeatedly parking outside his home in Church Close
  • Believed Mr Luther's car was parked across driveway on an evening in January
  • Using a knife which he skinned rabbits with, he attacked Mr Luther, leaving him with 9cm wound in his side 

Frederick Day, 72, plunged a hunting knife into a neighbour's friend because he had parked his car outside his home in the village of Stoke St Gregory, Somerset

Frederick Day, 72, plunged a hunting knife into a neighbour's friend because he had parked his car outside his home in the village of Stoke St Gregory, Somerset

A pensioner obsessed with parking outside his home plunged a hunting knife into a neighbour's friend.

Frederick Day, 72, lunged at the victim because he had parked his car outside his home in the village of Stoke St Gregory, Somerset, a court heard.

Brandon Luther, 22, was left with a nine centimetre deep stab wound in his side.

Taunton Crown Court heard how parking was an ongoing issue in the cul-de-sac, Church Close, and things boiled over one night in January.

Prosecutor Caroline Bolt told a jury: 'There had been some issue about parking with people overlapping his driveway for a period of some years.'

Day, who lives in the quiet village of Stoke St Gregory, Somerset, saw Mr Luther’s car parked near his house at 10pm and believed it was partly across the entrance to his driveway. 

Day went inside to fetch the hunting knife which he used to skin rabbits and for gardening.

An 'angry and aggressive' Day told the jury he intended to slash the car tyres and he threatened to damage the vehicle if he didn't move it.

Miss Bolt said: 'Mr Day continued to shout and then lunged at Mr Luther who felt pain in his side and realised he had been stabbed and was bleeding.' 

Giving evidence Day said: 'I am sick of people parking where I park my car. I thought he is really not moving and he is laughing and he really got to me - and I just thrust the knife in him.

Brandon Luther, 22, was left with a nine centimetre deep stab wound in his side. Above: Church Close, the cul-de-sac in the quiet village of Stoke St Gregory, Somerset, where Mr Day lived

Brandon Luther, 22, was left with a nine centimetre deep stab wound in his side. Above: Church Close, the cul-de-sac in the quiet village of Stoke St Gregory, Somerset, where Mr Day lived 

'I took the knife from my back pocket and I intended to stick him. I intended to stab him and cause him serious injury.'

Mr Luther suffered significant bleeding from an artery behind his kidney and spent a week in hospital.

Day admitted causing grievous bodily harm but denied the more serious charge of causing GBH with intent - and a jury took just 20 minutes to convict him.

The court heard Day has been married for more than 50 years and has three daughters.

He was jailed for six years and Judge David Ticehurst told him: 'For a period of several years I am in no doubt you made your neighbours' lives a misery.

'Your obsession with parking outside your house culminated in the attack on Brandon Luther, where you deliberately equipped yourself with a knife.

'You could have killed him. People with short fuses should know how to behave and control themselves - not to stab someone because of where they are parked.'

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Pensioner, 72, obsessed with people parking across driveway stabbed motorist, 22, with hunting knife

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