A member of a Wolverhampton residents association ended up in court after a heated argument with the chairman on his doorstep.

Pensioner Mike Nicholls, pictured, admitted threatening 64-year-old Tony Richards following a dispute that first broke out at East Park Residents Association.

Mr Richards, chairman of the group, claims Mr Nicholls “charged” at his door and threatened him during a row outside his home in Mayfield Road.

Mr Nicholls, aged 68, pleaded guilty to using threatening or abusive language or behaviour when he appeared at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court this week.

Speaking after the court hearing, Mr Richards, who has had his leg amputated and uses a scooter to get around, said he had been shaken up by the confrontation.

He said: “I am a disabled person, I’ve got an amputated leg and I can’t walk so I have to use a scooter.

“I heard the doorbell go and I saw Mike Nicholls standing on the footpath. He came charging down to me and so I was trying to get the door shut and he was swearing and there was verbal abuse. It was a very frightening experience.”

Mr Richards said residents association vice-chairman Darren Friel had witnessed the scuffle and had tried to stop Mr Nicholls. He claimed Mr Nicholls had been angry over a dispute which started at one of the meetings of the residents association several months earlier, which had resulted in Mr Nicholls being ejected.

Mr Nicholls was given a 12-month conditional discharge by magistrates and ordered to pay £70 court costs.

Vinny Bolina from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “This was a dispute between members of the residents association. There was a dispute on the doorstep which is where the incident took place.”

Mr Nicholls refused to comment after his court appearance.