Darlington man smashed love rival's windows, court told (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Darlington man smashed love rival's windows, court told

2:45pm Thursday 7th February 2013 in News By Vicki Henderson, Darlington reporter

A MAN smashed seven windows in a house belonging to a love rival, a court heard.

Christopher Thompson, 25, of Belford Gardens, Darlington, admitted criminal damage when he appeared at Darlington Magistrates’ Court.

Thompson smashed every window in the front of the house on January 26 after discovering that his girlfriend of two years was involved with someone else.

Jonathan Bambro, prosecuting, said Thompson told police he had never met the man whose windows he smashed and had nothing against him personally, but could not explain why he had caused the damage.

Laura Saunders-Jerome, mitigating, said: “It’s a can of worms. He was in a love triangle and the woman involved had refused to be straight with him. He had only just realised that his relationship was based on a lie.

“We might understand some of his frustration that no-one was being straight with him.”

A probation report found that Thompson needed help to work out his emotional issues and to think before he acts when upset.

Magistrates imposed a community order with six months of supervision and ordered Thompson to pay £350 compensation for the broken windows. He must also pay court costs of £85 and a £60 victim surcharge.