A BLACKWELL couple have been found guilty of assault, after a long running neighbourly dispute boiled over in a social club.

Redditch magistrates heard this week that Stephen and Rachael Rees, of Badger Way, Blackwell, and neighbours John and Toni Carrington "did not get on".

The feud erupted at the Blackwell Social Club on May 8, 2004, when a heated altercation took place in a corridor.

Prosecution witnesses told the court that Mr and Mrs Rees attacked Mr Carrington and his friend Casimiro Amato.

They said that Mr Amato, intervened to diffuse an argument between Mr Carrington, another friend Glenn Ward, and Mr Rees, which resulted in Mr Amato, being punched in the face by Mr Rees, suffering a black eye.

Mrs Rees then appeared on the scene, pinching, kicking and slapping Mr Carrington, before calling him a paedophile. He suffered soreness to his chest area.

However, Mr Rees called the police after the incident, claiming that he and his wife had, in fact, been assaulted, although they were later arrested following a complaint.

The couple denied the claims, insisting they were the victims.

Mr Rees said that after a confrontation with Glenn Ward and Mr Carrington, Mr Amato appeared in the corridor, struck him in the face and forcefully shoved him to the floor, causing bruising to his arms.

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Mrs Rees claimed she was backhanded across the face and shoved by Mr Carrington.

Both said that they retaliated in self-defence.

Mr Rees added that when he saw the Carringtons were in the club, he intended to finish his drink and leave.

Leading the prosecution Thomas Busby told Mr Rees: "You and your wife weren't the victims, you were out to make trouble.

"Calling the police was a device to make sure that you got your complaint in first."

Defending the couple, Julian Harris, said the testimony of witnesses had been confusing and misleading, and the only medical evidence presented had been from the defence.

He added: "Events inside the club cannot de divorced from the background between the two families."

Chair of the magistrates, Mrs Michelle Edwards said they did not believe the couple had been acting in self-defence.

The couple will be sentenced on Monday at Kidderminster Magistrates court, and Mr Rees faces a further sentence after being found guilty of harassing Mrs Carrington.