Scratched offensive word on front door

A Buxton man who scratched an offensive word on his neighbour’s front door with a fishing knife has been given a community order.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Apr 2014, 15:00 BST
COURT: Court CaseCOURT: Court Case
COURT: Court Case

Michael Newell had been in dispute with his next door neighbour Katie Critchlow over noise, High Peak Magistrates’ Court heard. On March 29, he went to Ms Critchlow’s house and an argument took place before Newell returned to his own property, prosecutor John Cooper said. Ms Critchlow immediately locked her door and ran upstairs but she then heard banging and scraping on her front door. Police attended and discovered Newell had carved an offensive word twice into the door.

Forty-year-old Newell, of Macclesfield Road, admitted criminal damage and possessing a bladed article in a public place.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Brent Patterson, defending, said: “There was an element of provocation. Mr Newell works shifts and returned home a few days earlier to be informed by his wife that Ms Critchlow’s partner had been abusive to her and threatening to her.”

Newell was given a 12-month community order with 160 hours’ unpaid work. He must also pay £786.97 compensation for the door, £85 costs and a £60 surcharge.