A FORMER teacher of religious education who attacked an ex-neighbour with a cosh has been fined £600.

Phillip Medhurst, 55, of Wordsworth Crescent, Kidderminster, was also ordered to pay £463 costs when he was sentenced at Hereford Crown Court.

He was found guilty after a trial at Worcester Crown Court in March of assaulting pensioner Graham Clark and causing him actual bodily harm.

The court heard that the families had lived next door to each other in Cherry Orchard, Kidderminster, for 12 years but there was bad feeling after Medhurst made remarks to Mr Clark's daughter.

Medhurst returned to Cherry Orchard to clear his ex-wife's belongings from the house when the violence occurred.

Mr Clark was cut on the head and received an injured shoulder.

Medhurst, said to have suffered medical problems since going through a divorce, claimed he was attacked first and acted in self-defence but was convicted by a 10-2 majority verdict.