Conditional discharge for Peter Crame from Donnington, despite 59 convictions

RESIDENTS called police when a man with alcohol and mental health issues issues threw metal poles around.

He has 59 previous convictions.

In what Reading magistrates described as “an odd case”, Peter James Crame admitted causing criminal damage to a car belonging to Laurence Beales, an innocent neighbour at Garrison Meadows in Donnington.

Sarita Basra, prosecuting on Tuesday, July 8, said 44-year-old Crame had convictions for 59 previous offences.

These include assault, being drunk and disorderly, obstructing police and outraging public decency.

Following one of his assault convictions, Thames Valley Police said: “We take a zero tolerance policy towards offenders who assault officers.”

Ms Basra said Crame’s latest offence happened in the afternoon of June 26.

A nearby resident saw him shouting and swearing and hurling pieces of a metal pole around.

One of these damaged neighbour Mr Beales’ Vauxhall Astra.

Ms Basra dded that, when police arrived, Crame was confrontational and obstructive and had to be subdued by the incapacitant, Captor, spray.

She added: “The aggrieved didn’t see the incident but said it was uncalled for and unprovoked.”

As a result, Mr Beales was nervous and had started to lock his doors in fear, the court heard.

Paul Cantrill, defending, said his client had once been addicted to Class A-controlled drugs but had beaten the habit.

His cannabis use had been “greatly reduced” of late but he now had a problem with alcohol abuse, magistrates were told.

Mr Cantrill said his client was unable to work because of poor eyesight and had endured “pretty significant mental health problems” for some time.

After retiring to confer, magistrates praised Crame for his efforts to beat his Class A drug addiction.

The presiding magistrates said: “We’re willing to accept this was a bit of an odd one… reports say you’d had an emotional day.

“Nevertheless we don’t want you doing this again.”

Crame was made subject to a six-month conditional discharge.

In addition, he was ordered to pay £85 costs, plus a statutory victim services surcharge of £26.