It started as a row over parking in one of Bristol's most genteel suburbs. But it degenerated into frightening scenes in a pub in Clifton village.

Bristol Magistrates' Court heard that retired dental surgeon Dr Derek Barnes was chased into The Clifton, in Regent Street by a neighbour, Kamaljit Singh, who was accompanied by three other men.

As Dr Barnes sought refuge behind the bar, Singh threatened to "burn down the pub and smoke him out", said Lesley Ness, prosecuting.

Mr Singh, 45, of Royal York Villas, was sentenced to 12 weeks' imprisonment - with six weeks on licence - after being found guilty of using "threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause fear of, or to provoke, violence".

However, Dr Barnes was not in court to hear the verdict. He died in the early hours of February 7th 2008 aged 67, following a heart attack.

Yesterday <<fri>>, his son Giles, 35, said: "My family welcomes the custodial sentence, and would like to thank the magistrates and the police for all they have done to ensure justice was done, but it can do little to ease our grief at the death of a much-loved husband and father

"My father had always been a fit, healthy man. He had played international water-polo, had swam in the World Student Games, and had also been a County Cross Country champion in his teens."

The court had heard how the parking dispute began in 2007, over Singh parking two large box vans at the entrance to the private driveway leading to flats in Cornwallis House and Grove House, off Hensman's Hill, in contravention of a 'Keep Clear' line and sign.

The 40 residents of Cornwallis House agreed that Dr Barnes, one of the three directors of the management committee, should approach Singh and ask him to respect the 'Keep Clear' sign.

However, Singh continued to park his vans at the entrance to the driveway, near his home, so Dr Barnes began taking pictures of the vehicles with the aim of getting Bristol City Council officials to take action.

Matters came to a head on April 17 2007, after Dr Barnes and his wife Hilary walked with some friends to nearby Clifton pub to take part in the Tuesday night quiz.

As they passed Singh's house, he confronted Dr Barnes, called him a paedophile, and told him: "I'm going to f****** get you. There is nothing your son or the police can do about it."

Mrs Ness told the court: "At about 9.15pm, Dr Barnes went outside the pub to make a call on his mobile phone to his son. He was suddenly surrounded by the defendant and some other men. One man said: 'We want to talk to you', and grabbed his arm.

Dr Barnes managed to run back into the pub, where he sought sanctuary behind the bar. Singh and the men pursued him, and Singh shouted to everyone in the pub that Dr Barnes was a paedophile who had been taking pictures of his children.

Mrs Ness added that when the bar staff protected Dr Barnes behind the bar, witnesses heard Mr Singh shout: "I'm going to burn your pub down and smoke him out."

The incident was captured on CCTV cameras in the pub, and Singh was later arrested on July 6 2007, and charged on August 28th 2007. The identities of the other men have never been established.

Singh denied the charge against him, but was found guilty at Bristol Magistrates Court on November 26 2008 at a trial held in his absence.

He had previously had failed to attend three previous hearings, and although he attended the fourth hearing he left the court before the case had been opened. On each occasion, Mr Singh said he was suffering from health problems.

Dr Barnes died shortly before the second court hearing. Defence solicitor Mark Linehan told the court that nothing he could say could address the grief felt by the family of Dr Barnes, but that his client now accepted that Dr Barnes "did not take photographs for any reason other than parking problems."

He said Singh, a father of two children aged 14 and 11, was a man of previous good character and ran a successful property management business. He added that Singh had always denied threatening to burn down the pub.

Passing sentence, chairman of the bench, Mr Bryan Nutter, told Singh: "This offence is so serious that custody is the only option."

He added: "You had already confronted Dr Barnes, and then returned accompanied by three other men to confront him again.

"You put your victim and other people, notably the landlord and his wife, in fear of their safety."

PC Jeremy Burstow, the officer in the case said: "This was a nasty case of harassment and together with my colleague PC Nick Shaw we were determined to thoroughly investigate all lines of enquiry.

"It has been a difficult time for the Barnes family because of the trial and the death of Dr Barnes, and I am pleased that they can put this upsetting episode behind them."