A man who punched and broke a window after he and his friend had a heated argument has been fined £40.
Neil Craven, 35, of Auckland Avenue in Darlington, pleaded guilty to 1 count of criminal damage to property under £5,000 when he appeared in front of Magistrates on Tuesday.
Ann Smout, prosecuting told the court that on the evening of 4th September – whilst Craven was staying at a friend’s house in Ryde – the 2 became involved in an argument.
Both men – who had been drinking heavily throughout the evening – continued to argue until Craven was told to leave the property after the confrontation became heated.
Craven left the premises before realising he didn’t have his wallet, phone and keys. He went back to the property to retrieve them but became involved in another confrontation that saw him punch a window at the block of flats – shattering the pane.
Defending, Oscar Vincent said that his client was down on the Island visiting his children for 4 weeks and that he and the complainant had been good friends for a number of years. He also said that Craven had misjudged the force he used and had offered to reimburse the landlord for the damage caused.
Neil Craven was ordered to pay a fine of £40, costs of £70, compensation of £25, and a £16 surcharge fee.
Another mainland miscreant down to disturb this predominantly peaceful Island. The irony is, it probably cost him more to travel back to the Island for the hearing, than he got in fines and costs.
I think it’s terrible.