Pensioner banned from neighbour's street

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Blythe Bridge pensioner banned from neighbour's street - in eight year row over postal deliveries

THIS is pensioner George Brayford who has been embroiled in a bitter row over postal deliveries with a neighbour for eight years.

This dispute has got so bad that 72-year-old Brayford has now been banned from visiting a nearby street for the third time.

Brayford lives at the same number on Adamthwaite DRIVE, in Blythe Bridge as police officer Karen Matthews does on Adamthwaite CLOSE and has become increasingly annoyed because he keeps getting her post.

The homes are two minutes walk from each other. The OAP has been angered by the address mix-up after:

A midwife turned up to check on Ms Matthews's baby – and went to Brayford's house;

Brayford returned home to find builders fixing his roof when they were meant to be at Ms Matthews's house;

He keeps receiving Ms Matthews's post despite putting a poster up in his home, arguing with postmen about the issue and complaining to Royal Mail.

Now Brayford has been handed a suspended prison sentence after being filmed in Adamthwaite Close, in breach of his restraining order.

Brayford pushed his police officer neighbour as a longstanding row over their post descended into violence.

The 72-year-old ignored his restraining order to go into Adamthwaite Close, Blythe Bridge, to post wrongly-delivered mail.

But Brayford was spotted by victim Karen Matthews and filmed on her mobile phone in Adamthwaite Close.

He pushed Ms Matthews on the shoulder as he left her street.

It is the latest incident where Brayford, of Adamthwaite Drive, Blythe Bridge, has breached the restraining order first imposed in March, 2013.

Now Brayford has been handed a six-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to pay £120 costs after admitting assaulting Ms Matthews by beating. He also admitted harassment by breaching the restraining order and breaching a conditional discharge.

North Staffordshire Justice Centre heard the latest incident happened on November 1 when Brayford went to the Adamthwaite Close cul-de-sac to deliver post to Ms Matthews after more mail was mistakenly delivered to his home.

The restraining order bans Brayford from entering Adamthwaite Close and contacting Ms Matthews.

Steve Knowles, prosecuting, told the court: "On the day in question she was at her home address and saw Mr Brayford approaching her address. She has, of course, known Mr Brayford for about 10 years so called the police.

"The injured party confirms she commenced recording Mr Brayford on her mobile phone and he was seen to approach her with effectively his arms up as if he was about to push her."

The court heard Brayford then pushed Ms Matthews.

Mike Kimberley, mitigating, said: "On this particular day he may have had an alcoholic beverage. It was 6pm and a letter came to the injured party.

"He thought, 'it's dark, I will deliver it'. But she caught a glimpse of him walking in her street. She got her mobile phone, saying 'George, you shouldn't be in the street'. She put it in his face. He then turned and there may have been a slight push."

The court heard the dispute has been ongoing for eight years after Brayford repeatedly received the wrong post.

Mr Kimberley added: "It also continued when, on one incident, he came home and found roofers on his roof. The injured party was also having a baby and the midwife called round.

"He should know better but he's tried to be as neighbourly as he can."

Residents in the two roads have also reported mail problems because of the similar addresses.

Robin Mawdesley, who has lived in Adamthwaite Close for 65 years, said: "Post mix-ups happen all the time and have done for years.

"I've had rugs delivered that I haven't ordered, electricians turn up, people wanting to carry out gas repairs who I've sent away, and letters and parcels that don't belong to me.

"For a long time it wasn't too much of a problem because my grandparents lived in the corresponding house in Adamthwaite Drive.

"But new people are living there now so it's more difficult to get my letters back. The names of the roads are very similar – so it can be frustrating."