An aggressive vandal used a large garden fork to damage a flat door while people were inside.
Daniel Mair, who is using a wheelchair as he currently has two broken legs, had turned up at the address in Heaton after wrongly believing that his uncle was inside. However, rather than leave when he got no response, the 34-year-old turned aggressive and picked up a garden fork, a court was told.
Mair then used the implement to strike the door to the flat, whilst people were inside, and caused damage worth £170 to repair. He was arrested after the police were called as the frightened occupants believed Mair was a burglar and was trying to break in.
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Mair, of Lort House, in Shieldfield, Newcastle, has been fined £80 and ordered to pay £170 in compensation after he pleaded guilty to criminal damage at Newcastle Magistrates' Court. He must also pay £40 costs and a £32 victim surcharge.
Lucy Todd, prosecuting, said Mair turned up at the block of five flats, in Heaton, on April 2 this year. She added: "Emergency workers were called to attend the scene after calls that a man was trying to break into one of the flats.
"Upon arrival, the defendant is found outside the flat and was the individual responsible. He was at the door and said he was looking for his uncle Jimmy. The handle of the door had been broken, as well as the door itself. A large garden fork had been used to damage the door."
The court heard that Mair, who has 25 offences on his record, was arrested and admitted in interview that his uncle didn't live at the flat involved but he thought he may have been there.
Alanna Wesencraft, defending, said: "Mr Mair believed his uncle was present at the flat and had concerns for him. He was shouting 'come out' but he didn't. He was last before the court in 2019. He apologises about his behaviour but he was genuinely concerned about his uncle."
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