An elderly church choir member smashed a solar lamp and shoved a man against a fence as a neighbours’ dispute over parking and wheelie bins boiled over, a court heard.

Doreen Ryan, 75, of Church Street, Cliffe, was found guilty of criminal damage and was also convicted of assault after shoving Ian Essam out of her way as she confronted his partner.

The court heard how the pensioner pushed him with both her hands and he teetered backwards on a fence, slightly injuring his back.

The pensioner, who has never been in trouble before, was offered a police caution but refused the offer and opted to stand trial.

She denied both charges when she appeared in court in March and the matter was sent for trial at Dartford Magistrates’ Court.

The bench placed her on a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered her to pay £500 court costs.

"I am not in the habit of swearing and don’t use foul language and I am far from a violent person..." - Doreen Ryan

Magistrates heard that an argument ensued outside her home late one night in August last year, after Ryan was spotted by her neighbour, Jacqueline Petherick, moving her wheelie bin across a car park at the back of their homes.

Mr Essam went outside to ask the pensioner to leave Miss Petherick’s bin alone and was closely followed by his girlfriend.

Paul Roach, prosecuting, said that both parties had fallen out and were in a continuing dispute regarding a parking space boundary.

He added: “A verbal argument broke out between them and Miss Petherick was called ‘bitch’ as she was recording what was happening on her mobile phone.

“Doreen Ryan then raises her hand and hits her own car with the solar lamp she was holding.

“She then throws the lamp between the parking spaces and the bin and pushes Mr Essam in the chest.

“He suffers a slight injury to his back when he meets the fence.”

Hayley Fisk, a friend of the couple who lives nearby, heard raised voices and, as she approached the car park, she saw Ryan with her arm outstretched and saw Mr Essam fall onto the fence.

Another neighbour, Luke Hawe, said that he did not see the incident but heard shouting.

He saw the pensioner following the couple and shouting at them.

Mr Hawe added: “They were trying to get away and then I heard Ian say, ‘Jackie, she’s just pushed me, call the police’.”

"They were trying to get away and then I heard Ian say, ‘Jackie, she’s just pushed me, call the police’..." - Witness Luke Hawe

Ryan, who used to work as a secretary at Temple Court Chambers, in London, claimed she had moved Mr Essam aside and that he made a bit of a drama of it.

She also said she had picked up the solar light for protection as Miss Petherick and Mr Essam were standing by the side of each other and she felt intimidated.

She added: “She was looking into my eyes rather viciously shouting ‘Put the bin back’.

“I asked him to move twice and the solar light was the only thing I could protect myself with – just in case.

“He wouldn’t move. I asked him twice and I raised my arm and moved him aside. They were in my way.

“They asked for the light back and I gave it to him rather hurriedly and it fell on the floor and broke.

“I am not in the habit of swearing and don’t use foul language and I am far from a violent person.”

Olivia Bliss, defending, also told the court Mr Essam was moved by her client with reasonable force because Ryan felt intimated by the couple and the damage to the solar lamp was accidental.