A former firefighter, once dubbed the Neighbour from Hell, has been told to expect a custodial sentence after admitting affray and possessing a metal bar.

Brian Pemberton, 64, appeared yesterday at Bradford Crown Court for trial on a series of charges, including wounding with intent and causing actual bodily harm.

But the case was adjourned for sentencing next month after Pemberton, of Ridgewood Close, Baildon, pleaded guilty to charges of affray, on October 10, 2010, and having an offensive weapon, a metal bar, in Ridgewood Close, Baildon, on the same date.

The wounding and assault charges will be left on file.

He denied two charges, on a separate indictment, of witness intimidation on November 30 and December 12 last year. It had been alleged he had stopped his car and stared at one witness, and shook his fist at another.

But he pleaded guilty to a charge of escaping from lawful custody, at Ridgewood Close, Baildon, on January 4 this year.

Prosecutor Simon Batiste said the written basis of the guilty plea to affray was acceptable.

Mr Batiste said the decision to accept all the pleas had not been taken lightly and had been very carefully considered by reviewing lawyers and the officers in the case. He said the wounding incident had been a relatively short one with the violence lasting not more than ten seconds, and the injuries to the complainants had been at the low end.

Mr Batiste added: “The Crown accepts there may be some difficulties proving the wounding with intent.”

He said the Crown accepted the other pleas because of the relatively minor nature of the intimidation and the guilty plea to the escape matter.

Judge John Potter said he understood and agreed with the prosecution view.

Pemberton’s barrister Nick Dry asked for an adjournment for probation reports and an addendum to a psychiatric report. He did not apply for bail.

Judge Potter adjourned that case until March 5 and remanded Pemberton in custody. He told him: “You must expect to receive a custodial sentence.”

  • Pemberton was jailed for 12 weeks five years ago for harassing a neighbour. The previous year he received a five-month prison sentence for a two-year campaign of harassment against his next-door neighbour.