A father-of-one assaulted his three next-door neighbours with CS spray because their music was “too loud”.  Arunas Kastentinavicius said at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court that he didn’t think there was anything wrong with using CS spray because it is perfectly normal in Lithuania.  The 26-year-old had used the spray on his neighbours because “they were drinking and playing loud music” while his child tried to sleep.

Mr Kastentinavicius admitted to possessing the weapon and three cases of assault on the 5^th of April. It was heard in court that Mr Kastentinavicius had asked his neighbours to turn down their music at midnight, to which they agreed, but then he had to return at 1am as the volume of the music had increased again. Mr Kastentinavicius said that they started to shout at him so he sprayed them with CS spray, “it is normal in Lithuania”, he said.

“He didn’t think to research if it was banned here”

Mitigating, Kevin Moorlock told the court: “In terms of the pepper spray, he says the cannister is available to buy in normal stores in Lithuania. It is recognised as forbidden in Germany, but he didn’t think to research if it was banned here. He has learned a harsh lesson.”

Mr Kastentinavicius was sentenced to six-months in prison for possession of the prohibited weapon, an additional three months for each charge of assault, 100 hours of unpaid community work, and a payment of £200 to each victim as compensation.

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