Laurence Joseph Effeney sentenced in court for grievous bodily harm

The animosity between two Rockhampton neighbours has reached boiling point with an 80-year-old father appearing in court after pushing his neighbour twice and putting a whipper snipper to her hand.

The animosity between two Berserker neighbours has reached boiling point with an 80-year-old Rockhampton father appearing in court for the first time after pushing his neighbour twice and putting a whipper snipper to her hand.

Laurence Joseph Effeney, 80, pleaded guilty in Rockhampton District Court on June 13 to one count of grievous bodily harm.

Crown prosecutor Maryam Yousufzai said Effeney was using a whipper snipper on the nature strip outside his and his neighbours homes on Nobbs Street on December 11, 2020.

Ms Yousufzai said when the victim, Effeney’s 63-year-old neighbour, heard the whipper snipper she went outside and started watering the grass on the nature strip outside her house to prevent Effeney from cutting the grass.

Laurence Joseph Effeney, 80, appeared in Rockhampton District Court on June 13, 2022.

She said Effeney pushed the victim twice, causing her to land on the concrete footpath.

She said Effeney pulled out a black pipe that he waved around that he called his “whacker” and placed the whipper snipper, which was still running, near her right thumb, causing a cut.

The court heard the victim suffered a left elbow fracture and nondisplaced fractures to her wrist.

Ms Yousufzai said there had been “animosity” between the two neighbours for decades.

Defence barrister Phil Hardcastle said “this activity” had been going on for years.

“It seems that the victim thinks the footpath was hers rather than belonging to the council,” Mr Hardcastle said.

“Frequently when he went to whipper snip the concrete she would come out with the hose to stop him.

“It’s a most unfortunate case, a man of my clients’ age coming to this court.”

Effeney was sentenced to 12 months’ prison, suspended for 12 months.