Crime tsar’s son jailed for drunken rage

THE son of Derbyshire’s police and crime commissioner has been jailed after deliberately smashing a £400 television at his parents’ home.

In a drunken rage, Sherinder Dhindsa picked up the LED smart TV in his frightened parents’ bedroom and threw it at a radiator, smashing it to pieces.

The 31-year-old’s father, Hardyal Dhindsa, who became the county’s PCC in 2016, said he and his wife had no choice but to press charges as it was the latest in a string of alcoholfuelled incidents involving their son. These include him being charged for refusing to take a police breathalyser test following a car accident in September.

This incident saw him handed a suspended jail sentence and 40-month driving ban, Southern Derbyshire Magistrates’ Court heard.

The incident involving the TV happened at his parents’ home in Somme Road, Allestree, on November 30, just days after his previous court appearance. Magistrates heard Sherinder Dhindsa had become “addicted” to alcohol after splitting from his partner and taking over a pub.

Prosecutor Mark Fielding said: “On this particular evening, he had been drinking again, which rather disappointed his parents.

“He was making various threats to them, so they adopted their usual tactic of disengaging with him. He then turned his attention to a television. He initially put his fist through the screen. He then picked the TV up and threw it at a radiator, smashing it into pieces.”

Mr and Mrs Dhindsa were so “frightened” they called the police and had their son arrested. They also applied for a restraining order as they have “simply had enough”, according to Mr Fielding.

Hardyal Dhindsa provided a statement to the court that explained their decision to press charges. It said: “We love him. I want to help him – we want our son back but we can’t have him living with us.

“We want to support him, but in a structured way outside of our home. We hope he continues to get help for his addiction and problems in his head.”

Magistrates imposed a twoyear restraining order on Sherinder Dhindsa that prohibits him from going to his parents’ house. He was also jailed for eight weeks and given an 11week suspended sentence handed to him during a previous court appearance.