THE LATEST episode in the saga of neighbours-at-odds on Park Crescent, Abergavenny, saw a 62-year-old woman strike her next door neighbour to the face, a court heard yesterday.

Barbara Thomas appeared at Newport Crown Court where her appeal against a conviction for battery against Angela Casa was rejected.

Mrs Casa told the court she woke at 6am on June 22 last year to see Thomas lying over her wall, taking photographs of her home.

She said this breached an injunction stopping Thomas and her 84-year-old mother Dorothy Evans entering her property, so went to speak to them.

Mrs Casa approached her gate to talk to Thomas and said Mrs Evans was swearing and inticing her daughter to punch her.

The court heard how Thomas was smirking and put the camera close to Mrs Casa’s face, taking photographs.

“I’m not sure if she she punched me or hit me with the camera, but I felt a blow to my face,” she said.

Mrs Casa told the court she was frightened because Thomas had phoned her parents on a number of occasions threatening to stab and kill her.

She said: “I held my hands up in fear she had the knife she’s always threatened to stab me with."

PC Geraint Butler told the court he arrested Thomas, Mrs Evans and Angela Casa. Thomas alleged she had been assaulted.

For the crown, Suzanne Thomas said Mrs Casa was examined by a police nurse and found to have a one and a half inch bruise on her left cheekbone.

Thomas, the appellant, claimed Mrs Casa pushed her against the metal gate causing bruising after she had tried to run away.

She was found guilty of battery at Cwmbran Magistrates in May and ordered to pay £50 compensation to the victim, a £150 fine, prosecution costs of £300 and a £15 victim surcharge.

Judge Rhys Rowlands described Mrs Casa as a “credible, impressive witness” and rejected Thomas’ appeal.

She must now pay a further £250 costs for the appeal.

After the case, Mrs Casa’s husband Roberto said he was happy the original guilty verdict was upheld.