A JURY has retired to consider verdicts following a two and a half day trial into allegations that a pensioner attacked his next door neighbour.

David John Leavers, of Peniel Terrace, Llan Ffestiniog, is accused of wounding with intent, the alternative lesser charge of unlawful wounding and causing criminal damage.

Prosecutors at Caernarfon Crown Court claim the 71-year-old attacked David Lloyd Hughes with a spade on Friday, 12 December last year causing him to lose part of the little finger on his right hand.

He is also accused of attacking the 51-year-old’s car with a saw.

Leavers denies all the charges.

In her closing statement, prosecutor Elen Owen described Leavers as a "furious child having a temper tantrum" partly because of "animosity that has gone back for years."

She accused Leavers of attacking his next door neighbour with an iron bar and a spade, leaving him with his finger hanging off.

Defence barrister Simon Mills told jurors the crown had failed to prove his client had committed the crimes he is accused of committing.

He argued that Mr Hughes was the aggressor and that Leavers was defending himself when he picked up the garden spade.

He said: "This is a case of one man’s word against the other.

"There were no eye witnesses, no CCTV; there is no one who can say: ’I saw that’ and can say that either Mr Hughes is right or Mr Leavers is right."

His Honour judge Rhys Rowlands told the jury of seven women and five men: "Look at the case objectively; step back and look at it analytically.

"Plainly, one one of these men has lied; you have to decide which of the two men that is."

Jurors retired to consider verdicts at 2.08pm on Wednesday.