Pair attacked each other with weapons near school

Two men who were caught up in an ongoing family feud have been sentenced for fighting each other with weapons near a school during drop-off time.

Police received multiple 999 calls reporting that two parents were fighting near Lime Academy Primary school in Parnwell, Peterborough, in November 2023.

Richard Bastow, 40, from Freston in the city, admitted affray and aggravated vehicle taking and was jailed for three years at Cambridge Crown Court on Friday.

Swaley Price, 29, of Gilmorton in Lutteworth, Leicestershire, admitted grievous bodily harm with intent and was handed 15 months in prison but suspended for two years.

Det Sgt Rebecca Welberry said: "I can only imagine what school staff and parents thought of witnessing this dispute, in broad daylight and at morning school drop off – it was no doubt very frightening."

Police said that on 22 November that year, at about 09:00 GMT, Bastow brandished a metal pole and, using Price's van, drove at his intended victim.

He smashed the van into a house.

Moments later, Price repeatedly struck Bastow with a baseball bat while he was on the ground - officers said.

Bastow sustained a fractured skull and memory loss. Police said he suffered three bleeds on the brain and was partially deaf in his right ear as a result.

Price was not seriously injured, Cambridgeshire Police added.

Bastow was disqualified from driving for 13 years and three months as part of his sentence.

Price must complete 100 hours of unpaid work and a 30-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.