Jealous Chesterfield man smashed cheating girlfriend’s phone

Christopher Chell, 48, smashed up the phone after snatching it from his partner while they socialised at a friend’s home.

Chesterfield Magistrates Court heard on May 31 Chell accused his partner of 10 years of using it to communicate with a love rival, grabbed the phone and ran into a toilet with it.

He then exited the bathroom and crushed the mobile underfoot.

Prosecutor Dan Church told the court Chell had 43 convictions for 60 offences and was serving a community order at the time of the incident after being caught growing cannabis in a tent.

Chell’s solicitor John Wilord, admitting the defendant had a “significant number” of previous convictions - told magistrates they were now of “some age”.

Speaking about the May 31 offence, Mr Wilford said: “They’ve been in a relationship for a long time.

“He said upon his arrest ‘I did her phone and I’m ashamed of myself’ - he was clearly ashamed of what he had done.”

The solicitor added that Chell had later given the victim his own iPhone as a replacement.

Chell, of Station Road, Whittington Moor, admitted criminal damage.

A magistrate told him: “It’s not acceptable to do what you did.”

However the bench noted a probation report on his progress had been “very positive”, adding: “We hopefully don't think this is a pattern.”

He was fined £120, made to pay a £34 victim surcharge and £85 court costs.

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