A GRANNY whose furious assault on a garage owner made her an unlikely internet star could now face prosecution for her actions, it has emerged.

Russell Claydon

A GRANNY whose furious assault on a garage owner made her an unlikely internet star could now face prosecution for her actions, it has emerged.

Police initially took no action over the incident in Sudbury, during which pensioner Valerie Dunningham repeatedly hit garage boss Luke Warr over the head with a newspaper and kicked out at him, but they are now looking into the matter.

It comes after a video of the confrontation was placed on internet site YouTube and received thousands of hits.

Mrs Dunningham, 63, has been in a long-running rights of way dispute with Burkitts Lane Garage over use of the driveway in front of her flat.

The 4ft 10ins tall grandmother became incensed when Mr Warr dragged an industrial wheelie bin along the driveway and past her home on July 28 this year.

The apparently unprovoked attack was recorded by Mr Warr's business partner Perry Williams on his mobile phone and the three-minute sequence has uploaded on to the internet.

It has now emerged that police are making further inquiries into the incident.

Mr Warr, 37, was interviewed by officers on Monday, although the garage owner has not made a formal complaint.

He said: “I have made a statement for them but not lodged a complaint.

“I like to try and look at the incident light-heartedly but I can see what their point is.”

Mr Williams added: “The police are taking it into their own hands. It is against the law to abuse and assault people in the street.

“I don't want to come to work and be hit around the head.”

Mrs Dunningham, 63, said after the incident: “That driveway was included with the flats and Mr Warr has another driveway of his own.

“It has been terrible for us, with banging and noise until 9pm at night and lights blazing.

“I admit I have a bit of a temper and, on this particular day, I finally snapped. I had a paper in one hand and when he refused to listen to me, I walloped him.”

The garage owners said they have an “established and legally drawn-up” right of way to use the driveway.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk police said: “I can confirm that we have spoken a second time to one of the parties involved in the incident and inquiries are ongoing.”