Litter 'obsessed' pensioner attacked 80-year-old man he believed had been dropping rubbish, court told

A 67-year-old man's 'obsession' with litter problems in his South Yorkshire village culminated in him attacking an 80-year-old man he believed had been dropping rubbish, a court heard.

A pensioner's 'obsession' with litter problems in his South Yorkshire village culminated in him attacking an 80-year-old man he believed had been dropping rubbish, a court heard.

In the moments before the attack just after 4pm on December 29, Roger Goodman's victim had parked up on a bridge just outside Micklebring to watch the gritting lorries travelling on the motorway below.

Louise Gallagher, prosecuting, said: "He said he had been there for about 10 minutes, watching the lorries, when all of a sudden he saw the defendant, a man he knew only as Goodman."

The court was told how Goodman, of Greaves Sike Lane, Micklebring, Rotherham walked up to the complainant's car, opened the driver-side door before an altercation broke out between the two pensioners.

This resulted in Goodman, 67, punching the complainant four or five times, elbowing him and reaching for his walking stick that he later used to damage his car.

Ms Gallagher described how the complainant had 'feared for his life' during the attack, and sounded his horn while it was taking place to call for help.

Following the incident, Goodman got back into his car and drove away.