A DOG owner who was annoyed at fireworks being let off close to his home smashed his car into a neighbour’s wall in a revenge attack.

Kevin Pritchard had already confronted the people who he thought were responsible for the noise on the night of October 28.

And after coming off worse in the disagreement, the 50-year-old got into his people carrier and wheel spun across a grassed area into a wall outside the house.

Pritchard denied dangerous driving but was found guilty by a jury following a trial at Swindon Crown Court earlier this year. He was cleared of a charge of causing actual bodily harm through wanton and furious driving over the incident in Park South.

Pritchard, who appeared in court using a wheelchair, had been annoyed by fireworks which he said had been aimed at his home. He went from his house on Hazelmere Close and walked across to Nathan Brydon’s home on nearby Netherton Close.

The pair argued and Pritchard was punched several times, sending him to the ground, the court was told.

He then walked back and got into his Chrysler Voyager and sped across a grassed area before smashing into the wall outside the Brydon’s house.

The car also smashed into a motorcycle, which had been parked outside the house, and after the incident he drove to the police station to hand himself in.

Speaking after the case Donna Brydon, Nathan’s wife, was not in at the time, but said two of her three young children had witnessed the incident, which happened just months after their home had been gutted by fire, and had been suffering with nightmares since.

“It’s been a nightmare,” the 27-year-old said.

“We’ve never seen Kevin in a rage before – Nathan has known him since he was young. It has really affected the kids. Both Conrad and Kori were by the door when he drove at the house and Nathan had to step in the way.

“We’ve not been awarded any compensation either and so we will have to pay to fix the wall and house ourselves, which will be a struggle.”

Rosie Walsh, defending Pritchard, said the driving was only for a short period after her client lost his temper.

He lived in an area where anti-social behaviour was not uncommon, she said, but had been at a bail hostel away from his family since the incident. She said he was on incapacity benefit as a result of back problems and needed to have epidurals to help manage the pain.

Jailing him Judge Douglas Field said: “On the evening in question you perhaps were understandably irritated that fireworks were going off in the vicinity of your house as you had dogs.

“Without the use of a wheelchair you strode across to your neighbour to remonstrate with them and you came off worse in that confrontation. You took the opportunity to leave that house, walk across that green and get into your car. You drove across to this address colliding with the motorcycle and wall. This is akin to a road rage incident.”

As well as jailing him for six months, he also banned him from driving for two years and until he passed an extended test.