An Ipswich man accused of grabbing his neighbour by the throat after she complained about his dog fouling in a communal area at their block of flats has been found guilty of assaulting her.

Darren Paul told Ipswich Crown Court he acted in self defence when his neighbour punched him in the face two or three times after he swore at her. He also denied brandishing an axe when her boyfriend and another man later came to his door. Yesterday he was found guilty of assault but cleared of having an axe in a public place on September 18 last year.

Paul admitted being in breach of a suspended prison sentence imposed in November 2012. Judge John Devaux adjourned sentence until the beginning of April for a pre-sentence report and warned Paul he was likely to be jailed.