Tenant threatened to put elderly landlord 'in a grave' during row over Hunstanton flat

An elderly landlord has described a tenant who threatened to put him "in a grave" as the worst he'd known in 45 years of renting property in Hunstanton.

Lynn magistrates heard yesterday that 87-year-old Peter Fisher had wanted to speak to Cameron Marshall about damage to the flat and non-payment of rent.

But, instead, he was greeted by the 25-year-old being abusive and insulting and then grabbing a cricket bat.

The court heard Mr Fisher was pleased just to see Marshall quit the Church Street property some time later despite being owed £4,000 in rent.

The row happened around August 21, 2020. Mr Fisher and his partner had attended the address and found Marshall “very angry”.

“Another witness returning to his home address then stood between Mr Marshall and the victim at the bottom of stairs leading to the flat,” said prosecutor Adam Warn.

Marshall swore and called Mr Fisher “an old man” as he shouted: “I’m going to knock your head off” and “I’ll put you in a grave”.

The defendant then went back into the flat and returned with the cricket bat, swirling it around his head and hitting it on the handrail, telling the victim to get off the stairs. He then went back into the flat and smashing sounds could be heard, said Mr Warn.

Marshall, now of Gaywood Road, Lynn, denied in police interview that he had brandished the bat.

On Thursday he pleaded guilty to using threatening words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of or provoke violence.

Mr Fisher said in a victim impact statement that he had never encountered anyone like Marshall in his 45 years as a landlord and he’d given up hope of getting the rent that was owed.

In mitigation, Andrew Cogan said his client, who had no convictions since 2013, had now cured himself of a drug addiction.

He added that the row had taken place at opposite ends of an outdoor metal staircase and Marshall accepted that he’d acted in an “unruly way”.

Marshall was given an 18-month community order with 150 hours’ unpaid work, a 60-day thinking skills programme and up to 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He was also ordered to pay £100 compensation to Mr Fisher, plus a £95 victim surcharge.