A LUXURY car needed more than £1,000 worth of repairs after a row between neighbours boiled over, magistrates were told.

Jasbir Sandhu decided she'd had enough of her neighbour's behaviour and poured a pot of paint all over their Mercedes car.

Southampton magistrates were told that there had been bad feeling between Sandhu and her neighbour Iram Mushtaq for some time.

Prosecutor Jason Spelman explained that in her subsequent interview with police Sandhu had admitted carrying out the criminal damage in retaliation for Mrs Mushtaq beheading her roses which Sandhu said were particularly enjoyed by her daughter.

Mr Spelman said that on July 5 the paint had been thrown over the Mercedes C180, which was relatively new.

He said: "Paint had been thrown over the bonnet and windscreen, it was a light coloured paint.

"Paint drops had been left and a trail led to the front door of the defendant."

Mr Spelman said the Mushtaq family had tried to remove the paint but it had left a mark.

The cost to re-spray the vehicle was £1,600 which Mrs Sandhu had said was "extortionate" and refused to pay, prompting the prosecution by the family.

Sandhu, 55, of Mount Pleasant Road, Southampton, was subsequently charged with one offence of criminal damage.

The court heard that although unemployed Sandhu had claimed there had been incidents against her, they had not been reported to the police or council.

Magistrates ordered that Sandhu pay £1,600 in compensation along with a £15 victim surcharge.

She was also conditionally discharged for a year.

Outside court Sandhu said she did not regret carrying out the damage, in which she deliberately use 'sand' coloured paint to tie in with her own name.