Man damaged a window in temper
A BOYFRIEND who lost his temper and broke his partner’s window after an argument was branded “very silly” by a judge.
Paul O’Connel had been asked to leave his girlfriend’s Wallsend home and was locked outside when he caused £400 worth of damage. In a bid to get back inside the property, the 32-year-old had forcibly pulled a window “off its runners” before fleeing the scene, a court heard.
However, O’Connel, who has previous domesticrelated offences on his record, soon handed himself in to the police and he was arrested.
And he’s now been ordered to pay £400 compensation to his girlfriend after he pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage at North Tyneside
Magistrates’ Court. Sentencing him, District Judge Paul Currer said: “This is very silly offending, really. People disagree all the time but that doesn’t mean you have to end up damaging things.”
The court heard that it was on December 9 this year that O’Connel, now of Bewick Road, Wallsend, was at his partner’s home, where he had been living for two months. Alan Davison, prosecuting, said: “The complainant had been supporting the defendant financially throughout their relationship but, in the past few weeks, his behaviour had deteriorated. They had an argument. She heard him pick up a glass from the table and heard it smash.”
The victim then told O’Connel to leave her home and locked him out, the court was told. Mr Davison continued: “The defendant pulled the kitchen window, which was slightly open at the time, off its runners. He then left and the police were called.”
David Parish, mitigating, said O’Connel now accepted his relationship was over.
The solicitor added: “The kitchen window was slightly ajar. He’s opened it wanting her to let him back in but accepts he used too much force and damaged the window.”