A retired nurse called 999 and said that she would kill her neighbour after the two argued about a delivery driver.
Yvonne Finlayson, 74, told the call handler that she was going to murder her next-door neighbour Christine Blower, 72, vowing she was “going to kill her, the f****** c***” before putting the phone down.
Alarmed, the operator rang back as “normal procedure”, where Finlayson continued: “I do not f***ing care, I will f***ing kill that c*** next door. I will really do that.” The call handler then asked the 74-year-old her address so officers could attend the scene.
Greater Manchester Police soon turned up to the 74-year-old’s door, who was placed in a cell after they arrested her.
Two neighbours feuding over a delivery driver resulted in an alarming call to 999, where one vowed to kill the other
Getty/Google Street View
Appearing at Wigan Magistrates Court, Finlayson revealed the cause of the two pensioners’ feuding. Blower had befriended “Gaz”, a local delivery driver, and the 74-year-old accused the two of stealing money from her.
On the day of the threatening call, Blower posted online about the woman next door: “My next neighbour has harmed my dog with a knife please help me she is evil.”
Nick Smart, prosecuting, told the court: “She confirmed she used to be friends with Blower 'but not now', but denied making the call. She said it didn't sound like her on the phone. Police were not satisfied and went on to charge her.”
After the bust-up, Blower died from natural causes on August 21, 2023. Following her death, charges of assault and a public order made against Finlayson were dropped.
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However, she pleaded guilty to a malicious communication offence and was conditionally discharged for a year.
Ian Owen, defending, told the court: “This is a lady who finds herself before the court for the first time in her life at the age of 74, which in itself is a sad fact. When Yvonne moved in to her address in 2019 she struck up a passable friendship with Christine Blower.
“The two got along extremely well in the foregoing years and they came to rely on each other for help. Christine quite often called upon Yvonne when feeling unwell to sit with her while waiting for an ambulance as she had a myriad of health problems that my client could help with.”
He said the relationship soon soured when “Gaz” got involved, with Finlayson believing that the pair stole some of her possessions.
“She had a very good reason for thinking that he was responsible for taking those things. Police were called, but they did not take it any further. However, that did not stop Yvonne from having her suspicions,” Owen continued.
Blower had befriended a delivery driver (not pictured) which caused the friendship to sour
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Finlayson confronted Blower about the missing purse and handbag, but the latter denied knowing anything, which caused the 74-year-old to call off the friendship. However, at that very moment, a delivery driver appeared to arrive at the 72-year-old’s house, something Owen described as “the final straw”.
''As a consequence of that, for no particular reason at all, Yvonne made the call to the police. Utterances were made and idle threats were spoken to the control centre operator. She is now left convicted for the first time in her life for this offence. If she could turn the clock back she would. She spent a night in custody for her trouble.
“The fact of the indignity of being taken to a police station, kept in a cell, put in a van, taken to court, made to account for herself on two occasions, has had a devastating impact on this lady.”
He said that Finlayson had not slept for nights ahead of the upcoming court appearance.
She was ordered to pay £111 in costs and victim surcharge.
Judge Adrian Hardy told her: "The fact you spent time in custody is a punishment in itself. I am sure you won't want to do that again. It is a lesson well learnt. I hope you get a good night's sleep tonight.”
