I am aware that this thread is a little old but I have just stumbled across this thread and was so annoyed that I had to post a response.
Firstly, the neighbour in question is definitely in the wrong. Legally, trespass is a civil offence and now that an altercation has taken place, further incursions could be seen as "aggravated trespass" that is an arrestable offence. Morally, it is just rude to walk on someone elses garden for your convenience.
The general consensus appears to be that help-i-need should just put up with it. If he did that for twenty years, the rude neighbour could actually claim legal right of way across his drive. This would be on the grounds that, if the neighbours use adversely effected anyone, they would have addressed it. To me, NOT asking the neighbour to refrain is like giving him the land that you have paid for, (assuming that no rights of way exist already)
If it were me, I would put a 1.2m fence up (so long as no covenants exist). The highest you can put up next to a highway without planning consent.
I am quite amazed that not a single person out of the four who replied thought the neighbour was the one in the wrong. What he is doing is aggressive, rude and illegal. If he had maybe asked about using the driveway as a one off, then yes no harm. That would be give and take, I'm afraid this scenario is just take!
As for the comments from tufty7, that was nothing short of pathetic. To suggest that this guy is a petty man that likes to spy on young boys is also aggressive and rude. The sound of a man, a child and a ball being kicked may have been the giveaway that led him to deduce that football was being played, not spying. I also agree that disabled or not, if he can play football, he can reverse a car.
It's a common theme in society these days. The rude carry on regardless, insulting people, taking what they can get away with.
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