After the event last year, Mr. Tolkien, who starred in two of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movies, suffered from stinging eyes and confused vision.
In a peaceful rural community in North Wales, rival neighbors engaged in a conflict over their gardens, according to testimony given in court.
According to prosecutor Neil Catherall, Tolkien saw Hopkins spray weed killer on the wall separating their respective rural estates as he was in his garden.
Tolkien made the decision to keep an eye on Hopkins in case he “sprayed some of the liquid on his plants.”
When he thought the poison had reached his own plants, he started filming on his phone.
Hopkins sprayed him with the substance as he moved over to the wall and turned the camera up, according to Mr. Catheall.
As a result of the weed killer making his left eye hurt and his vision blur, Mr. Catherall said before the court that Mr. Tolkien was “shocked” by what had occurred.
Hopkins made no apologies, but the injuries got better the next day. But Mr. Tolkien later reported the incident to the police.
The wind may have picked up part of the weed killer, according to retired man Hopkins, who told police he thought it sprayed on his neighbor.
Additionally, he emphasized that it was not done on purpose.
Hopkins, of Sychdyn, North Wales, appeared before Mold magistrates on Friday to begin his assault trial.
The 83-year-old allegedly had a “change of heart” and instead admitted to assaulting Mr. Tolkien.
The event occurred against the backdrop of a “long running quarrel” between the two neighbors, defense attorney Simon Simmons told the court.
Being videotaped was “very terrifying” for his client, he said, since Mr. Tolkien had several cameras mounted on poles pointing towards Hopkins’ home.
The video given by Mr. Tolkien, according to Mr. Simmons, shows him offering a “running commentary” on how the liquid got on his arm and chest, but it doesn’t show any fear about his eyes.
He just wants to put everything behind him and move forward, Mr. Simmons said.
Hopkins received a 12-month conditional release from the court and was mandated to pay £22 in victim surcharges in addition to £350 in costs.
As it was believed that this may “aggravate the situation,” no compensation was granted.
Michael Tolkien, the author’s second son, was the grandfather of Mr. Tolkien. His father used to read him the first editions of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit before night.
Mr. Tolkien, who was four years old when his great-grandfather passed away in 1973, cannot remember him, but he is an admirer of his writing and has read all of his novels many times.
The 53-year-old has previously said, “I am as much in awe of Tolkien as everybody else.” I’m quite modest about it. I’m simply fortunate to have a relationship with the person.