A WHITCHURCH man who damaged his alleged love rival’s car has been given a 12-month community order and unpaid work.

Scott Sharkey appeared at Telford Magistrates Court on Tuesday, October 24 and pleaded guilty to three counts of criminal damage to property valued under £5,000 and a further charge of sending by public communication network a menacing message, namely a telephone call.

The court heard that the defendant, who represented himself, had caused damage to the windscreen of a Vauxhall Astra belonging to his former partner on June 26 this year.

OTHER NEWS:

On the same day, Sharkey, who works as a lorry driver, also caused £700 worth of damage to a Citroen Xsara car belonging to another man, which was enough to see the car written off.

It was alleged in court by the defendant that he had been told by his former partner that she had had an affair with the other man.

A third vehicle, a Ford Ka belonging to another woman, had its rear bumper and boot damaged by Sharkey, 34 and of Castle Court, Whitchurch.

Sharkey pleaded guilty to the fourth charge but said he did not recall the phone call where he, according to the prosecution, told his ex that ‘he would rearrange their faces with a bar’.

The court heard that the defendant threw a bike at his ex's windscreen, which he paid for the repair of, but a victim impact statement had not been made.

Addressing District Judge Kevin Grego, Sharkey said: “I ‘m sorry for what I’ve done for these damages and I have a receipt to say I’ve fixed one which was the windscreen.”

He added: “I’m obviously very sorry for all the things I’ve done.”

DJ Grego sentenced him to a 12-month community order and 180 hours of unpaid work – 60 per each count – but gave no separate penalty for the communication charge.

 

He said: “I take into account your guilty plea.

“Whatever the difficulties of a romantic relationship, your behaviour is in no way to be justified.”

He was also ordered to pay £700 in compensation to the other man, £500 to the third victim and £135 in costs.