Angry man who took frustration out on cars is handed final chance

MORE than £6,000 damage was caused to a BMW by an angry man brandishing a screwdriver.

Ako Faraji, who was angered by an alleged unpaid debt, claimed he simply lost control after chancing upon the car’s owner in Eldon Street, off Lee Circle, in the city centre, on the night of Saturday, April 23.

He later told the police that instead of attacking the owner, he vented his fury on the man’s car.

But Leicester Crown Court was told the victim claimed to only know Faraji in passing and denied owing him anything.

Lynsey Knott, prosecuting, said the victim had recently purchased the BMW for £18,000.

It was parked in Eldon Street, near a restaurant, when he saw Faraji jumping out of another vehicle, with a screwdriver in his hand.

The 25-year-old defendant used the tool to repeatedly stab the vehicle and kick it, in front of the shocked owner.

The defendant began shouting for his car keys and the disturbance continued until the police arrived.

In an interview, Faraji admitted causing the damage. He said the BMW owner owed him £3,500.

Miss Knott said the vehicle sustained damage costing £6,400 to put right.

The owner, unable to afford the repair bill, was left hugely out of pocket when he sold it in a state of disrepair for £9,000 – half of the purchase price.

While on bail, Faraji lost his temper again, during a work shift at a car wash in Aylestone Road, in the city, on Wednesday, May 25.

He later claimed the reason was due to an unsatisfactory response from his boss, after complaining the chemical products made him feel dizzy.

In a temper, he went to a nearby car sales forecourt where he damaged a Kia and a Mini Clubman, leaving them with dented door panels.

It cost £920 to repair them. Faraji, of Oxford Street, Leicester, pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal damage.

The court heard that the defendant came to the UK from Iranian Kurdistan as a 15-year-old asylum seeker, after members of his family were killed during hostilities.

He was later granted leave to remain and settled in Leicester after finding the multicultural city and community ties “appealing.”

A probation officer, who interviewed the defendant at court during a short break, told the judge: “He suffered traumatic experiences before coming to the UK.

“He’s been allowed to work for the past four years and had various jobs, mainly in warehouses and the fastfood industry.”

The probation officer described Faraji being “unrepentant, with a lack of remorse”.

He said Faraji felt justified in his attack on the BMW, having allegedly loaned the owner £4,000 and only been repaid £500 – and said he acted in frustration.

A community mental health nurse, who assessed Faraj, told the court the defendant had “mental capacity” but was understandably affected by horrific wartime incidents he witnessed as a child.

He had described himself as “always having anger issues”.

Judge Philip Head, handing Faraj a 22-week jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, said: “I sentence you on the basis you happened to be passing rather than this being planned.

“You jumped out of a car with that weapon and used it to puncture the car, causing extensive damage.

“Five weeks later, you damaged two cars on a dealer’s lot, while on bail. On that occasion you told the police you used your body as a battering ram.

“If you lose your temper again you will go inside. Your future is in your hands. There’s nothing wrong with you in terms of your mental health.

“The Probation Service will be working with you to teach you to clearly understand you can’t behave in this way.”

Along with the suspended sentence, Faraji was given a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement. He was also ordered to carry out 140 hours of unpaid work.

Another “Mr Angry”, Page 12

SUSPENDED JAIL

TERM AFTER THREE VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED