Axe-wielding Leeds town neighbour smashed up cars over long-running parking row
A rampaging neighbour “lost it” and attacked a couple in their own home before taking an axe to their cars over a dispute about street parking.
Alex Giuntoni then attacked the front door of another house, leaving thousands of pounds worth of damage in his wake.
The 47-year-old narrowly avoided being locked up at Leeds Crown Court this week, being handed a suspended sentence after admitting a catalogue of offences.
This included two counts of assault by beating, three for criminal damage, possession of a bladed article in public and making threats with a bladed article.
The court heard that Giuntoni had a long-running dispute over parking on the street in Chapel Row in Otley.
The situation deteriorated and on July 22, he walked into a neighbour’s home uninvited through an unlocked door, punched a woman in the face and threw a mug at her which hit her in the face.
He then switched his attention to a male occupant, trying to punch him but missing. He then threw a candle at him which struck the man to the chin.
Giuntoni was then dragged out of the property by his own partner, but he grabbed an axe and set about smashing up the the couple’s cars, breaking the windows and lights to a Citroen and a Range Rover.
The court reported that the damage ran to thousands.
He then switched his attention to another neighbour who had witnessed the attack, telling them he would “wipe the smile off their face”, prosecutor Sophie Lamb told the court.
Giuntoni then switched his attention to their home after they locked themselves in, striking the door with the axe three times, smashing the door’s glass.
The damage ran to more than £2,700.
Giuntoni was arrested but refused to answer questions during his police interview. He has no previous convictions.
Mitigating, Andrew Nixon said Giuntoni used the axe to cause damage and it was never intended to injure people.
He even made reference the the classic horror film The Shining, telling the judge: “It was not a ‘Here’s Johnny!” moment, coming through the door to kill somebody.
“It was a moment of absolute loss of control. There is remorse and regret and it was completely out of character.”
Mr Nixon said Giuntoni was now living with his partner for whom he is a carer, and was looking to sell his Otley home.
The judge, Recorder Ayesha Smart told Giuntoni: “There’s no justification for the actions you took, you went about it completely the wrong way.”
She acknowledged his post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and said of the parking issue: “It was the straw that broke the camel’s back. You really did lose it.”
She gave him a two-year sentence, suspended for two years - the maximum permissible length than can be suspended.
She ordered him to complete 20 rehabilitation days and 200 hours of unpaid work.
He also gave him a three-year restraining order to keep him away from the victims.