A man who smashed the windscreen of a vehicle in a random act of vandalism in Portadown has been told to attend court to pay it back.
Paul David Hinds, of Margaretta Crescent, Dunmurry, appeared before Craigavon Magistrates’ Court, via videolink from Maghaberry.
The 44-year-old was charged with one count of criminal damage.
The incident occurred on March 24 this year, when the defendant smashed the windscreen of the vehicle, which was parked on Woodhouse Street in the town, causing damage to the amount of approximately £600.
The damage was seemingly carried out randomly, with the court hearing that the injured party was “unknown” to the defendant.
Of Hinds, the defence counsel told the court that two other cases for the defendant had been dealt with in Belfast that morning, with Hinds having received a three months sentence.
Having spent some time on remand, the defendant still had two weeks of custody left to do.
Conn O’Neill, the defending barrister, said that there was “nothing clever about this offence” adding that his client is someone who has had difficulties with alcohol.
He explained that Hinds, who lives in Belfast, had been trying to get back home but was refused travel due to his “disposition and lack of funds”.
He added that Hinds can give “no account as to why he has done this”.
District Judge Bernie Kelly said that she wanted the defendant to appear in person in court on May 12 with the £600, adding that without the money he would be back in Maghaberry.
“When you decide to cause £600 worth of damage to somebody else’s property, you should be prepared to pay for it,” she said.
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