Fearnhead man smashed up love rival's car

FEARNHEAD MAN SMASHED UP LOVE RIVAL'S CAR

A FEARNHEAD man smashed up a love rival’s car after he started an affair with the victim’s girlfriend.

Christopher Paul James, aged 30, of Canada Close, used a bat to break the windows, and destroy the bodywork, of an Audi A4.

Halton Magistrates Court heard it belonged to Michael Brown, whose girlfriend had begun a relationship with James.

Alison Warburton, prosecuting, said: “The victim in this case is Michael Brown.

A month before the incident, he found his girlfriend had been in another relationship with this defendant.

“(Mr Brown) immediately ended that relationship.

He wasn’t interested in speaking to the defendant.” But on June 29 this year, James went to the home of Mr Brown at 1.20am.

After knocking on the door and getting no answer, he attacked the car, the court heard.

Witness reported seeing him use an object which could have been a bar or bat, before leaving in a BMW.

Police later found a baseball bat at the defendant’s home.

James, who works as an engineer, pleaded guilty to criminal damage.

The court heard he was under stress, and admitted losing his temper.

Magistrates sentenced James to 80 hours unpaid work, and to pay £645 in costs and compensation.