City fan vandalizes neighbor’s fence with offensive Munich reference following disagreement.

Michael Hatton, a 63-year-old Manchester City fan, was involved in a bitter feud with his Manchester United supporter neighbours in the Hollins area of Oldham. This feud started over a wooden fence he erected between their front gardens. Amid escalating tensions, Hatton painted vile slurs, including references to the 1958 Munich air crash, on the fence. He also attached screws and used offensive language towards his neighbours, causing them distress and fear.

The male victim, who is selling his house due to the situation, expressed feeling terrorized and unable to live peacefully due to Hatton’s actions. Hatton’s behavior included painting offensive remarks on the fence, yelling insults, and threatening his neighbors with physical harm. His neighbors felt like they were living in fear and wanted to move to escape his harassment and aggressive behavior. The ongoing dispute began in 2020 and escalated into multiple incidents of hostile actions by Hatton towards his neighbors.

According to the prosecution, Hatton deliberately damaged the fence between the two properties, shouted offensive language, and vandalized the fence with hurtful words alluding to the Munich air disaster. This pattern of behavior caused significant distress and fear to the victims. Despite Hatton’s lawyer claiming that tensions between the neighbors have calmed down since the incidents, the victims expressed their desire to move away from the neighborhood to escape Hatton’s harassment and aggression.

Hatton pleaded guilty to causing trouble over a period between February and June of the previous year. He received a six-month community punishment, had to engage in special activities with the probation service, paid a fine, and faced a restraining order preventing him from going near his neighbors or stepping onto their property for two years. The court highlighted Hatton’s previous history of offenses, including battery, and the impact of his actions on the victims, who suffered significant distress and fear as a result of his behavior.

The dispute between Michael Hatton and his neighbors serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of neighborly conflicts and the impact of harassment and aggression on individuals. Hatton’s actions, which included painting offensive slurs on the fence, shouting insults, and causing distress, resulted in legal consequences and a restraining order. The victims’ fear and desire to move away from their home reflect the emotional toll of such conflicts and highlight the importance of peacefully resolving disputes to ensure a safe and peaceful living environment for all parties involved.