A MAN has been ordered to pay more than £3,500 after damaging a front door and secondary door belonging to someone he thought was having an ‘inappropriate relationship’ with his friend’s wife.
Richard Thomas Aston, of Fels Avenue, pleaded guilty at Worcester Magistrates Court on Friday (June 26) to causing criminal damage to Peter Webster’s property.
Mark Soper, prosecuting, told the court Mr Webster believed someone was trying to cause damage to his house in Droitwich at about 10pm on May 23, after he had gone to bed. He called the police after he looked out his window and saw what was happening.
He said: “A neighbour also heard what was going on and saw what had caused the damage which was the defendant.”
The 36-year-old was arrested and admitted he had been drinking when he was interviewed.
Aston said: “First of all I would like to say that I am nothing short of disgusted by what had happened that evening. I am someone who has a moral compass that points in the right direction.”
He went on to tell magistrates he was under the influence of alcohol and went to Mr Webster’s house because he was behaving inappropriately with his friends wife.
He said the relationship was not of a sexual nature but had lead to the distraction of a family’s life but his friend was not an outspoken man.
Aston told the court his friend’s wife was going to Mr Webster’s house until 5am and everyone was talking about it.
Chair of the bench John Taylor fined Aston £800, ordered him to pay £1,357 in compensation to Mr Webster. He also had to pay a £150 court charge, an £80 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.
