A man who does not drive or own a car vandalised a vehicle which was left in the parking space he was entitled to as part of his lease on a flat.
Furious Gavin Glover, 58, used a hammer to smash the windows of the VW Polo when he lashed out after his neighbour’s boyfriend left his car in the bay.
Glover had not used the space for the past 12 years but after trashing the car, he told police he thought the driver had been “impolite”
Now he has been ordered to pay the owner £300 and faces eviction from his home after admitting criminal damage.
A court heard the parking space had been allocated to Glover as part of the lease on his rented flat in Crewe, Cheshire.
A court heard the parking space had been allocated to Glover as part of the lease on his rented flat in Crewe, Cheshire.
And he reacted angrily when motorist Luke Davies used the spot when he visited his girlfriend last December.
Glover, who had been drinking, stormed outside with a hammer and smashed the windscreen, heated rear window and rear passenger window.
He was later arrested and told police: “She already has her own space adjacent to mine. I do not have my own car - nevertheless, I see this as being impolite.”
Leanne Gallagher, prosecuting, told Crewe magistrates: “The defendant became frustrated at this and having had a large amount to drink he took a hammer and smashed three windows of the car, a Volkswagen Polo, causing extensive damage."
She added: “In terms of interview, he said there are ongoing issues in relation to the allocated parking bay. He said it was a bit of a blur. He said he had gone out with an object and was not aware of how much damage he had caused.”
Representing himself, Glover said: “Firstly I would like to apologise to the owner of the car.
“It was not directed at him personally. It was a kind of a petty thing that has escalated into something more serious as a result of the actions of myself for which I am thoroughly ashamed.
“I do believe it could have all been avoided. I did ask the girlfriend of the gentleman who owns the car who lives in my block of flats. I asked her several times not to let her friends and visitors park in the bay. It has been going on for quite a few years.
“But whenever I mentioned it politely, there were sniggers and jeers and unpleasant remarks.
“I kind of let it go because I am not really a confrontational sort of person. I am deeply remorseful and ashamed about what has happened.”
“It sounds so petty what has led to what I have done but it’s very serious and I understand that completely as they could lead to me being evicted.”
He added: “They have explained the severity of it and I am aware of it. I could be evicted over this.
“I am concerned about my actions. I am not denying the severity of what I have done and how it looks. It was a scary thing and it’s not in my personality.”
Glover was conditionally discharged for 12-months.
