Noel Duncan: Peterson Rd Officer woman hurt by grandfather neighbour after dispute triggers ugly street attack
They have been at war for almost a decade, but what made this Officer grandfather finally snap and attack his neighbour?
South East
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An Officer grandfather who attacked his female neighbour in the street following a bitter dispute has avoided a jail sentence.
Noel Duncan, 72, pleaded guilty in the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court over the bizarre outburst which saw him yank the woman’s arms and scream in her face on June 10 last year.
The court heard the retired TAFE teacher developed bad blood with the woman after she moved into the street close to 10 years ago, with “ongoing disputes” frequently erupting between the pair.
Magistrate Costas Kilias heard the woman was driving along Peterson Rd about 8.45am when she saw Duncan walking with his dog.
The court she heard a loud bang and thinking Duncan had thrown something at her car, the victim pulled over.
Duncan pulled the woman’s car door open, attempting to drag her out by the arm before holding her down by her wrists, the court heard.
The woman frantically struggled as Duncan screamed in her face for up to three minutes, with his saliva splattering on her face.
“The victim stated she was really scared and her wrist and arms were throbbing,” the prosecution said.
The defence said the woman had swerved toward Duncan when she was just metres away in the seconds before the incident.
Duncan, a grandfather who lives with his wife of 45 years, said he had told the victim to “come on, get out of the car”.
“Why I did that, I do not know, because I hurt my shoulder really badly,” Duncan told police.
“I wanted her to stand up and talk to me.”
Magistrate Costas Kilias said it was understood that the victim’s behaviour had been “polemic” over the years.
Duncan was given a diversion order for three months, with a personal safety order also served shortly after the incident.
