Buncha Devil Worshippers

Jehovah's Witnesses abused by neighbour

May 8 2009 by Kim Carmichael, Evening Chronicle

ANGRY Dietrich Beatty mistook his Christian neighbours for devil worshippers – so he smashed up their car.

Beatty had been drinking when he visited the home of pensioner Gilbert Buttner and began banging on the windows and shouting abuse, before turning his attention to the car parked outside.

Newcastle Magistrates’ Court heard how Beatty, 39, of Briarwood Avenue, Gosforth, was confused about the nature of the religion of Mr Buttner, who is a Jehovah’s Witness, after being misinformed while attending a Christian boarding school.

Lynn Gray, prosecuting, said: “At 8.30pm on Monday, April 13, Mr Buttner heard noise coming from his porch and saw Mr Beatty banging on his window and car, shouting ‘antichrist,’ ‘devil worshipper,’ and ‘my father was a Christian vicar’. Mr Buttner then found a dent in his car.

“Mr Beatty later told police he had consumed so much alcohol that he could not remember damaging the vehicle and that he had held that view about Jehovah’s Witnesses since he was at Christian boarding school.”

Mr Buttner, 67, who was home with his wife Ruth, also 67, and son Jonathan, 28, at the time, said: “I was with my wife and son and he was banging on the window and calling us some terrible things.

“My wife was very ill with shock and had to be taken away in the ambulance to hospital.

“We have lived here for 15 years and have had no problems with the neighbours before this.

“The estimated damage to my car was £435, which has been paid by his family.” Mr Beatty, who has apologised for his behaviour, said: “I was wrong about Jehovah’s Witnesses.

“I have since done some research and I now know that they are Christians and not what I first believed.”

Mr Buttner added: “If he has now learnt more about our faith and no longer thinks these things, then that at least is one positive thing to come out of the situation.”

Susan Clark, chairman of the bench, told Mr Beatty, who admitted religiously-aggravated criminal damage, that she hoped not to see him in court again.

She sentenced him to a 12-month community order.