Carpenter fractures pensioner’s eye socket with piece of wood as Dorset neighbour dispute erupts
A carpenter, Christopher Wellman, fractured a 76-year-old neighbour's eye socket and cheekbone with a piece of wood during a dispute over noise and a shared driveway in Dorset. The incident occurred after the retired magistrate, Colin Prior, placed his foot on Wellman's electric saw to stop the noise from loud music and construction. Wellman avoided jail despite the severe injuries inflicted and the ongoing tensions between the families over a planning dispute.
- ▪Christopher Wellman, 36, attacked 76-year-old Colin Prior with a 3x4 wooden beam, causing serious facial injuries.
- ▪The assault followed a long-standing dispute over a wellness business operated by Wellman’s partner in a neighboring property.
- ▪Prior suffered a fractured eye socket and cheekbone, and his ear was split 'essentially in half' during the confrontation.
- ▪The court heard that Prior had placed his foot on the electric saw after complaining about loud music and noise from construction work.
- ▪Wellman was not sentenced to prison, prompting disappointment from the victim, who said the attack had psychologically affected him and his wife.
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NewsUKCrimeCarpenter fractures pensioner’s eye socket with piece of wood as Dorset neighbour dispute eruptsThe disagreement escalated following a row over an electric saw and loud music Corey Ross Wednesday 29 April 2026 10:19 BSTBookmarkBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popover{"translations":{"comments":"Go to comments","share":"Share","copyLink":"Copy link","bookmark":"Bookmark","removeBookmark":"Remove bookmark"},"showComments":false,"showBookmark":true,"articleId":"b2967002","articleMeta":{"url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/dorset-christopher-wellman-colin-prior-b2967002.html","title":"Carpenter fractures pensioner’s eye socket with piece of wood amid neighbour dispute"}}open image in gallery{"id":"trigger-autogallery-200156","index":0}Colin Prior was left…
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