ALMONDBURY MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO DAMAGING EX'S MOBILE IN CEMETERY ROW
A man wrecked a mobile phone belonging to his vulnerable ex as they argued in a graveyard.Nathan Lee flew into a rage and grabbed hold of the device belonging to his former partner, who has autism.
He was later woken up by his ex's mother banging on the door in fury at what had happened to her.
The 52-year-old pleaded guilty to criminal damage when he appeared at Kirklees Magistrates' Court.
Vanessa Jones, prosecuting, said that the couple were in a relationship for 12 months.
They then separated three months prior to the incident on August 1.
Mrs Jones told magistrates: "There were tensions within the relationship and she said it was because of the way he was.
She is vulnerable as she has learning difficulties and has been diagnosed with autism." At around 9pm the couple were in Almondbury Cemetery when they began to argue, magistrates were told.
Mrs Jones said: "That argument escalated and he grabbed hold of her Samsung mobile phone and bent it with his hands, causing the screen to crack." The victim left and went home, telling her mum what had happened.
Mrs Jones said: "He said he went home to bed but was woken by banging at the door by (the victim's mum) who was extremely angry about what had occurred." The broken phone cost an estimated £200 to repair.
Ian Whiteley, mitigating, said: "Both parties clearly have issues.
There was a domestic argument and he accepts he lost his temper and damaged the phone.
It's an offence out of character for him." Magistrates ordered Lee, of Northgate in Almondbury, to pay the victim £100 compensation.
He was fined £100 and will have to pay £32 victim surcharge.
