Jealousy of ex-partner's affair leads to car rage

Loss of temper results in heavy fine and compensation

A JEALOUS ex-boyfriend went berserk when he found his former partner had cheated on him, Newbury magistrates heard.

Robert Kenneth Fox smashed up Laura Warcup’s car, causing nearly £2,500 worth of damage, the court was told.

Helen Waite, prosecuting, said: “The aggrieved, Ms Warcup, had been in a relationship with the defendant and on this occasion they ended up having an argument by text after she had left for her work at a care home.

“He said he was going to come to her place of work and smash up her car. And that’s exactly what he did.”

Twenty-six-year-old Mr Fox, of Bodin Gardens, Newbury, punched out Ms Warcup’s rear windscreen then repeatedly kicked the driver’s door, leaving huge dents, the court was told.

Photographs of the damage were shown to magistrates.

Ms Waite said that, during a subsequent police interview, Mr Fox said he had been drinking at the time of the incident after discovering Ms Warcup had apparently been unfaithful to him.

He admitted causing criminal damage at Greenham Road, Newbury, on October 19.

Mr Fox also has previous convictions, the court was told.

Mike Davis, defending, said: “The relationship had finished at the time of this incident but Mr Fox discovered that, while they were in the relationship, she had been seeing someone else behind his back. Not surprisingly, that annoyed him. He had also had a lot to drink.”

Mr Davis said his client had expressed genuine remorse for his actions and had even turned himself in to police afterwards.

He said that the £2,487.31 bill would be paid by the insurance company but that Mr Fox would happily pay Ms Warcup’s excess.

Magistrates fined him £165 and ordered him to pay £150 criminal courts charge plus £85 costs and £20 victim surcharge.

Finally, they ordered him to pay £150 compensation to Ms Warcup.