Alfreton reveller pays price for damaging wall

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard on Friday, December 19, how Jason Sweating, 26, of Erewash Street, Pye Bridge, Alfreton, had visited the flat in Alfreton with others.

Prosecuting solicitor John Cooper said: “The occupant of the flat and her friends went down to see a group of lads who were shouting outside and the lads went to Tesco and then returned to the flat.

“The lads went up to the flat including this defendant and they all started drinking and started getting loud and rowdy.

“The defendant was standing against a wall and kept kicking it and he made a small hole and he was told to stop but a girl then kicked the hole and made it bigger.”

Mr Cooper added that the occupant of the flat later found six to eight more holes in the walls of the property.

Sweating told police he had been drinking at Weatherspoon’s and had been asked if he wanted to go to the party and he got beer from Tesco.

He added that he had been stupid and apologised for causing the damage.

Watson originally agreed to pay for the damage but after he had only paid back £10 and failed to make any more payments the Crown Prosecution Service opted to prosecute him.

Watson pleaded guilty to causing damage to the wall after the incident in July.

Defence solicitor Denny Lau said Watson had only been responsible for one of the holes in the walls.

Mr Lau added: “He had every intention of paying for the damage caused but he had moved out of the area and was then made redundant. Magistrates fined Watson £74 and ordered him to pay £120 compensation and £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.