Saturday 27 October 2012

Solicitor Threw Bucket Of Dirty Water Over Neighbour


A solicitor involved in a plumbing dispute with her neighbour was convicted of assault after throwing a bucket of dirty water from a blocked sink over the shocked woman.

Victoria Herath, 56, (pictured) the managing director of Victoria & Co shouted: "You bitch, you bastard," out of her kitchen window as the neighbour passed by, Isleworth Crown Court heard.

The middle-aged victim, Abeba Berha, who lives directly above Herath in Brent Lea, Brentford told the court: "She came out with a bucket of water and just threw it over me.

"It was a big bucket and the corridor was flooded. I just screamed because I did not expect this.

"It was dirty water. How can someone throw it over someone else," added the sobbing Mrs Berha.

"She is always abusive and shouts at everybody. Once she waved a knife and the police came and told us to be careful.

"The way you act is not like a normal person," Mrs. Berha told Herath from the witness box.

In a statement to police the victim said: "I am very scared of the lady. She is terrorising my family and others in the block. Mrs Herath is an unpredictable lady."

Neighbour Elizabeth McLean immediately called the police after hearing the commotion in the communal hallway and told the appeal hearing: "Mrs Berha was standing in a huge puddle of horrible, dirty-looking water.

"She was scared and she said: 'There may be acid in this water.'

"There was an exchange of shouting between Mrs Berha's husband and son and Mrs Herath, who was shouting out of her kitchen window.

"I have heard her shouting so many times, shouting at numerous people over the past six years."

Herath has also complained about the witnesses two children and other youngsters playing in and around the block.

"You were harassing and intimidating my children for a long time," Miss McLean told the solicitor. "You have isolated yourself by shouting at everyone.

"You don't like to see people get on and have a good time and be a community.

"You shout out of your window at people just walking past. You don't want to be friends with anyone."

When police arrived Herath told them she was unhappy with a blocked drain and had to be handcuffed as she struggled with a WPC who wanted to prevent her making a call on her mobile phone.

Her suggestion that neighbours had conspired together to bring the allegation against her was dismissed along with the appeal against her assault conviction.

The original sentence of a £110 fine, plus £50 compensation to Mrs Berha, a £15 victim surcharge and £50 costs remains, plus an additional £310 costs order for the failed appeal.

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