A BRYNMAWR man admitted damaging his ex-partner’s front door as he tried to retrieve a pair of boots he needed for the start of his community service the next day.
But, the move backfired and instead of helping him with the unpaid work requirement, it led to it being extended from 120 hours to 200 hours.
Darren Eckley, 22, of Glamorgan Street, Brynmawr, appeared at Caerphilly Magistrates’ Court yesterday where he admitted criminal damage.
The incident happened on Monday at Hafod View, Brynmawr, which is the address of Hannah Morgan, who Eckley was in a relationship with until last Friday.
Prosecutor Ruth Hale said Eckley phoned Ms Morgan on Monday "in a violent mood", saying he was coming around and if she didn’t let him in, he was going to "smash windows and smash the house up".
Fearing for her safety, Ms Morgan locked the doors and hid upstairs. But, Ms Hale said she was left feeling "scared and afraid" as the defendant hit the door, breaking a lock off and damaging the front as he repeatedly shouted at her, asking her to return items such as the boots.
Defence barrister Steve Jones said Eckley had appeared in Magistrates’ Court last Wednesday, when he was ordered to fulfil 120 hours community service as part of a supervision order for criminal damage.
Mr Jones said Eckley was given a pair of boots and told he wouldn’t be allowed on the bus to fulfil community service without them - which was why he was so determined to retrieve them.
Chairwoman of the bench Mary Shooter ordered Eckley to fulfil a further 80 hours community service, pay £100 compensation, £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
She said: "It was an expensive loss of temper. Be very careful in future."
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