Margaret Morley and Kane Gillman are warring neighbours.
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They also happen to be grandmother and grandson.
In an acute case of bad blood between relatives, Morley and Gillman have been fighting for much of the three years they have lived next to each other in their Corrimal unit complex; Morley doesn’t like her grandson’s “hideous” music blaring and Gillman hates his grandmother’s small dogs yapping all the time.
The pair have each made multiple complaints against the other one to authorities, leading to a further deterioration in their relationship.
However, their battle reached an all-time high one Thursday afternoon in August last year.
It started like any other spat – arguing over loud music and barking dogs – however, just after 5pm, while waiting for police to respond to her noise complaint, Morley snapped.
In a fit of rage, the 67-year-old widow grabbed a hammer from the end of her lounge and marched out the front door.
Reaching her grandson’s unit, Morley swung the hammer once, twice, and then a third time, smashing all three glass panels on his lounge room window.
She then walked around the outside of the unit, smashing the kitchen window and four bedroom windows as she went.
Still not finished, Morley returned to the front of the unit and climbed inside through one of the shattered windows, approaching her grandson with the hammer raised.
Gillman managed to disarm his grandmother while the two exchanged insults and threats, prompting Morley to push the TV off its table and smash her grandson’s laptop.
Police arrived at that moment and broke up the fight, arresting Morley and charging her with intimidation, property damage and entering the home without permission.
In an interview with police, Morley said she had no remorse, having finally “had enough” after putting up with grandson’s behaviour for years.
She pleaded guilty to the charges in court on Friday and was placed on a two-year good-behaviour bond.
The court heard she was paying $50 a fortnight to Housing NSW for the broken windows.
She was also ordered to pay $2200 compensation for the broken computer.
