A 43-year-old man was ordered to pay compensation after smashing through the door of his ex-partner’s home.
Gareth Mcleod, of Topsham Road, Exeter, pleaded guilty to criminal damage and using violence to secure entry at Exeter Magistrates’ Court.
On February 11 last year, Mcleod attended Lancelot Road in Exeter, where the mother of his two children was living. He was drunk and verbally abusive, the court heard.
When his ex-partner said to him: “Do you honestly think I do nothing?” he replied, “Don’t talk to me like that you cheeky bitch.”
The court heard he tried to get into the address, and upon realising the door was locked, punched the window and the door.
He smashed through the door, knocking it completely off its frame. When Mcleod gained entry, he realised a family member was on the phone to police and promptly left.
The court heard his children were present in the front room at the time of the offences.
He caused a total of £999.55 worth of damage to the window, door and lock.
Mcleod’s defence lawyer said that the complainant and defendant have made up since the incident, but at the time were having difficulties in their relationship. They are now separated and co-parent their two young children with no issues.
The defence added that the door was already damaged and the complainant had already reported this to the council, but nothing was done to fix it.
The bench ordered Mcleod to pay 75 per cent of the damage, contributing about £750.
This story was produced via the Police & Crime Commissioner’s Criminal Justice Court Reporting scheme.
