WOMAN FEARED SHE WOULD BE SET ALIGHT

Drug user poured whiskey on her and flicked a lighter

MONKEY dust user Wayne Harrington doused his partner in alcohol and ‘flicked’ a lighter.

The 32-year-old became paranoid after drinking and taking the psychoactive drug and poured half a bottle of Jack Daniel’s over his victim.

He turned the lights off and flicked the lighter near her head. She believed he was going to set her on fire and feared for her life. He damaged an ornament in her home and stole her bank card. After he was arrested and taken into custody he kicked out at a detention officer.

Now Harrington has been handed a two year community order at Stoke-on-trent Crown Court. He was also made subject to a restraining order that prevents him having any contact with his victim for five years.

Prosecutor Joshua Purser said the victim was in an ‘on-off’ relationship with Harrington but on February 19 they decided to rekindle it. The next day he stayed at her house. But he had taken monkey dust and became aggressive. Mr Purser said: “He made threats.”

The next day he followed her home. She initially refused him entry but eventually let him inside. But he began to behave as he had done the previous day.

Mr Purser said: “She believed he was under the influence of monkey dust. He poured half a bottle of Jack Daniel’s over her head, turned the lights off and flicked a lighter near her head. She believed he was going to set her on fire and was petrified for her life.”

The victim was later outside and heard Harrington smashing property inside her home. He damaged her ornament and stamped on it before leaving.

Mr Purser said: “She noticed her Nationwide bank card was missing. The police were contacted. The defendant was found in the vicinity. He was searched and officers recovered the victim’s bank card, some keys and a locking knife.

“The defendant was arrested and taken to custody. At 8.55pm he was sat on the floor in custody refusing to stand up or walk. As a detention officer walked past, the defendant kicked out for no reason.”

Harrington, of Vale Street, Stoke, pleaded guilty to assault by beating, criminal damage, theft, assault by beating of an emergency worker and possession of a bladed article.

Barry White, mitigating, said: “He accepts his behaviour and the effect it would have had on his ex-partner. He is embarrassed. His problem is drink.

“When he drinks too much he turns to using monkey dust. He becomes paranoid and a completely different person than the man in court today.”

As part of the community order Harrington must complete a rehabilitation activity requirement for 30 days; a programme requirement to attend the Building Better Lives programme; and a six-month drug rehabilitation requirement.

Judge David Fletcher said: “This was a day of madness on your part. You made things worse for yourself when you were taken into custody by committing an assault on an emergency worker, which almost always results in an immediate loss of liberty.”