Man released early from jail smashes up car in Thatcham

Shane Mark Prout was caught because police were able to get a DNA match from the blood he left at the scene, the court was told.
Claire French, prosecuting, said the aggrieved, Linda Mistry, had been driven by her son, Alan Murphy, to the airport and, when he returned, he parked and locked her Vauxhall Astra.
She added: “Next morning he discovered the passenger side window was smashed; there was blood in the car; a volume knob was missing from the stereo and the contents of the glove box had been removed.”
On being arrested, the court heard, Mr Prout, of Crowfield Drive, Thatcham, said he had no recollection of that night as he had been “paralytic” drunk.
Mr Prout admitted causing criminal damage on December 14 last year.
He has numerous previous convictions, the court heard, primarily for dishonesty and drug offences.
Adonis Daniel, defending, said his client had been released early on licence after serving around half of a three-year jail sentence.
However, he added, police have indicated he will be given a “first warning” for this latest offence, rather than being recalled to prison.
Mr Daniel said Mr Prout had been attending all his appointments with probation officers. He said his client had been drinking heavily that evening because he was “deeply upset to have found his partner had been cheating on him.”
Magistrates fined him £40 with £85 costs and a £20 statutory surcharge.
They also ordered Mr Prout to compensate Ms Mistry by repaying her insurance excess of £75.