A RETIRED teacher became so angry by the parking of parents on the school run that he put an axe through the windscreen of a car.

Hereford Magistrates Court heard this week that Francis Woodward had experienced problems for six years before violence broke out near Whitchurch Primary School.

The 64-year-old, who pleaded guilty to criminal damage and a section 4 public order offence, smashed a wood-cutting axe through a Volkswagen Tiguan last month.

Chris Read, defending, said Woodward thought the matter of "inconsiderate parking" had been resolved after talks with the school.

But Lesley Ashton, prosecuting, said shortly after 3pm on June 10 a man called Mr Jones went to collect his daughter and parked on the road just off the A40 and near to the school.

He said he saw Woodward then park his car halfway into the road and in front of his car.

Mr Jones said: "Due to a previous incident I was expecting him to do something."

Woodward then repeatedly told Mr Jones to remove the vehicle from "his driveway" but Mr Jones told him he had parked on the highway.

Woodward then started swearing and verbally abusing Mr Jones.

He told Mr Jones that he lived with a 92-year-old mum and he had needed to call an ambulance three times in the last two years and that Mr Jones' car was "compromising" his entrance.

Mr Jones said Woodward then told him he had been in the army for 15 years and said he could still "totalise" him.

Woodward then said that if Mr Jones didn't move his car he would go and get an axe and put it through the windscreen.

Mr Jones collected his daughter but when he returned to his car he could see the damage.

The court heard Woodward had put an axe through the windscreen and then pulled it out and walked away.

Mr Read said Woodward had no previous convictions.

He said he had overreacted, adding: "This is a culmination of six years of frustration."

Woodward was ordered to pay a fine of £250 for the criminal damage, £250 for the public order offence, £250 compensation to cover insurance excess, a £30 victim surcharge and £135 court costs.

The prosecution has applied for a criminal behaviour order which will be heard in August.