Broke window whilst trying to 'score' drugs

Published on 10th May 2007 in News

A late-night wander into Howden town centre proved costly for one young man recently when he caused more than £100 of damage by smashing a glass window pane in a bid to score drugs.

Scott Duffy (25), of Derwent Crescent, Howden, pleaded guilty to one count of causing criminal damage when he appeared at Goole Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

Prosecuting, Mrs Julie Laverack Glanville told the court that shortly before 2.30am on Monday, April 30, a female resident of a first-floor flat in Hailgate was woken by the sound of her front door bell ringing.

The resident made her way downstairs to find a man - Mr Duffy - stood at the other side of the frosted-glass door. Mrs Laverack Glanville said that the resident was forced to call the police after witnessing Mr Duffy smash a pane of glass in the front door before running away from the scene.

Moments later, the resident, who had been joined by her brother, saw Mr Duffy returning to the property but he once again ran off when he caught sight of the complainant and her brother.

When later arrested by police, Mr Duffy admitted smashing the glass pane with his elbow, after mistaking the property for a place where he had previously been able to 'score drugs'.

Defending, Mr David Lockheart said that Mr Duffy had spent the previous afternoon, Sunday, April 29, working in the garden of the home he shared with his partner, whilst enjoying a few cans of lager. Later in the afternoon, Mr Duffy's friend came round and the pair began drinking vodka until the early hours of the morning, when they decided to move on to the friend's house, situated elsewhere in Howden.

On the way there, the pair passed a property in Hailgate, and Mr Duffy mistakenly thought that he had been there previously to buy drugs so decided to pay a visit in an attempt to buy some more.

Mr Lockheart said that his client did not deliberately break the glass pane and as soon as it went through, he panicked and fled. He explained that Mr Duffy later returned to the scene when he thought he saw a light on in the flat, but fled the scene for a final time when he was greeted by a hostile man and woman at the property.

Magistrates ordered Mr Duffy to pay a £200 fine for the offence and £100 in compensation for the distress caused to the resident. He was also ordered to pay £55 towards court costs and a £15 compulsory victim surcharge.