74-Year-Old Dog Groomer Fined £1,000 for Vandalizing Neighbor’s Planter with Bright Green Paint

In an unusual case from Farnborough, Hampshire, a 74-year-old dog groomer, Jean Smith, has been ordered to pay over £1,000 after a protracted feud with her neighbor, Darren Collins. Smith was found guilty of vandalizing Collins’ garden planters, which he installed to prevent her customers from parking on his lawn. Over 18 months, she defaced the planters with luminous spray paint and red tape, even running one over with her car, though she claimed it was accidental. The court ruled she committed multiple counts of criminal damage, resulting in a £400 fine, £160 victim surcharge, and compensation to Collins. The case highlights the strain that neighborly disputes can have on community harmony.