A tired man knifed a carpet fitter’s van tyres after an argument about the amount of noise they were making at 8am, a court heard.
BMW engineer Darryl Young, 59, had been trying to get some sleep following a night shift when he “lost the plot” over the early morning banging on 14 June this year.
The defendant, of Zakopane Road in Haydon End, North Swindon, initially went to speak to the pair of carpet fitters about the noise levels and an argument ensued.
Keith Ballinger, prosecuting, said that at around 11am the duo discovered their Mercedes van tyres deflated and with holes in – immediately believing they had been caused by a knife.
The police were alerted to the incident and CCTV showed Young walking away from the scene of the crime with what appeared to be a knife in his back pocket.
Appearing at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (4 October), he pleaded guilty to possession of a knife in a public place and criminal damage.
Defence solicitor Emma Hillier said her client “lost the plot” after being worked up at 8am to the sound of heavy banging, despite trying to sleep after a night shift at BMW.
She said Young was intimidated by two males when he approached them about the noise and claims nothing was done when he spoke to the pair’s manager on the phone.
Young may have admitted the offences, but Ms Hillier told the court he had taken four co-codamol for a severe headache and does not recall carrying out the acts.
The court heard how Young was under a lot of pressure with work and other personal matters, with the carpet fitters’ banging being the “last straw”.
Magistrates imposed 115 hours of unpaid work and told the defendant he must pay £512 in compensation for four new tyres. No costs were requested by the court.
