A MAN man from Deeside has been cleared of deliberately driving at a friend in his silver Vauxhall Corsa.
A court heard claims that Daniel Parry was struck and ended up rolling onto the bonnet and breaking the windscreen.
A jury at Mold Crown Court sitting at Chester yesterday was told Parry hurled a lump through the rear windscreen of the car as it drove away.
The driver, Liam Paul Jenkins, 23, stopped the car and got a metal bar from the boot.
Both were threatening each other and ended up fighting before it was broken up by Parry’s stepfather, Paul Keenan, the prosecution claimed.
The court heard Parry had previously admitted affray and possessing an offensive weapon in Firbrook Avenue, Connah’s Quay, on October 18.
Jenkins, of Wedgewood Road, Queensferry, denied dangerous driving, affray and possessing an offensive weapon and claimed he acted in self-defence.
He alleged Parry had chased after him with a lump hammer and deliberately jumped onto the bonnet, trying to smash his windscreen. As he drove off the hammer came through the rear windscreen so he stopped and got a bar from the boot to defend himself.
Parry produced a shovel which he used to smash all the car windows.
Jenkins said he ran to a friend’s house to ring the police, returned to the scene when he thought it was safe, but claimed he ran off again when Parry produced a knife.
Following a one day trial and a 45-minute jury adjournment Jenkins was cleared of all charges. Parry will be sentenced on Friday by Judge Niclas Parry.
Nicholas Williams, prosecuting, said on October 18, 2010, Mr Keenan, of Mold Road, Connah’s Quay, was building a garden wall for a neighbour in Firbrook Avenue and was being helped by stepson Daniel Parry.
Jenkins pulled up in his car, was alleged to have said “you and me, around the corner now” in an aggressive way.
It was alleged by the prosecution, but denied by Jenkins, that he had a metal bar or wrench on the front seat.
He reversed the car and was chased by Parry who armed himself with a lump hammer. Jenkins started to do a three point turn but then, it was alleged, appeared to change his mind and drove at Parry.
It was not at speed but the impact knocked him onto the bonnet and he rolled back onto the road, smashing the windscreen as he did so, Mr Williams alleged.
As Jenkins drove away, Parry hurled the hammer through the rear windscreen, Jenkins stopped and got a bar from the boot, and Parry picked up a shovel.
They ran at each other but Jenkins then ran off only for Parry to use the shovel to smash all the remaining windows in Jenkins’ car.
Jenkins returned to the scene and there was then a fist fight, it was claimed.
John Wyn Williams, defending, said Jenkins was the victim in the incident. His car had been damaged by a man who jumped onto his bonnet with a lump hammer. As he drove away in panic the hammer came in through the rear screen.
Jenkins did pick up a bar to defend himself, but when he fled the other man attacked his car again.
It was only when he thought it was safe to return after alerting police Jenkins went back to the scene and it was the defence case he fled again when he saw Price with a knife.
In evidence, Jenkins said he was in the street visiting a friend, saw Mr Keenan building a wall and stopped to see if he could sort matters out because he had been receiving threatening text messages from Price, who looked up, jumped over the wall and ran at his vehicle with a lump hammer as he tried to get away.
The prosecution claimed both men were as bad as each other. The only prosecution witness to be called was Mr Keenan. Price was not called to give evidence.