A MAN accused of stabbing his neighbour to death in a fight outside the flats they shared wanted to move away from the area, a court heard.

William Adrian Hughes, 63, denies murdering his neighbour David Greenall in a row about dogs using the communal gardens.

Mr Greenall suffered a 10cm stab wound to his liver and died in Furness General Hospital following the fight in Broad Close, Ormsgill.

A post mortem examination found he suffered a deep knife wound to his abdomen which had penetrated his liver.

Neighbours described how Hughes was often seen mopping the hallways and looking after communal spaces at the flats.

Sharon Watson, defending, said he had “a bit of an obsession” about the cleanliness and recycling at the shared building.

On June 12 2020 a fight broke out between Mr Greenall, Hughes and another man near the main doorway to the building.

One neighbour, Mr Dixon, said: “I heard the sound of banging and fighting.

“I heard someone say the word ‘paedophile’.

“I think it was the defendant but I cannot be certain.”

Ann Morris, a housing officer, said she had spoken to Hughes in May 2020 and recalled him saying he was “fed up” with the area and the property he was living in.

He had requested a move but Ms Morris told him there were no moves taking place due to the coronavirus pandemic.

She issued him with a diary to record any incidents of noise or antisocial behaviour and when she spoke to him again on May 27, she said Hughes seemed more positive about the future.

The jury was shown photographs taken by crime scene investigators following Mr Greenall’s death.

Mr Greenall’s blood was found inside his flat which the prosecution said showed he had returned to his home following the fight.

Records showed a 999 call made by Mr Greenall at 19.56, which was shortly followed by a call from Hughes reporting the incident.

Police and paramedics rushed to the scene where they found Mr Greenall seriously injured.

Hughes denies murder.