Man who 'BELLY BOUNCED' elderly neighbour escapes jail

Morrison Wilson, 59, claimed his victim who suffered injuries as a result of the assault, had been aggressive and "sticking her nose in" when he spoke to a driver outside his home in Belfast.

He was handed an eight month suspended prison sentence, during proceedings at Belfast Magistrates Court today. 

During a previous court hearing in February, he said: "With my big belly, because she was flailing her hands about, I just bounced back."

Wilson said his neighbour fell backwards, landing on her tail bone area. 

He also claimed she flung fertiliser at him after the fall. 

Questioned by prosecution lawyers about his claim to have "bounced" his victim during the incident in October 2013, Wilson replied: "What am I going to do? Grab her with my belly?

"She was aggressive, she wasn't getting her own way.. and I knew what was coming next."

Wilson has been ordered to pay a total of £1,000 compensation to the woman and her daughter for two separate incidents linked to a parking dispute.

He was found guilty of a series of offences connected to a separate offence, which occurred six days before the belly assault incident. 

These include assaults on two women, being found on his neighbour's premises for an unlawful purpose and criminal damage to the victim's front door, television set and vase.

He will also pay £290 to cover the costs of damages to a television set. 

Two assaults on police are also on his list of convictions. 

During Wilson's sentencing today, his defence barrister Sean Mullan said he had both mental and physical health issues. 

District Judge Ken Nixon sentenced Wilson to eight months in jail for the belly assault incident and a series of lesser prison terms for the other offences, which will be served concurrently. 

Each of the sentences were suspended for two years.  Wilson was ordered to pay his fines in the next six months.