'Peeping Tom' fear man attacked house
A man convinced himself a "peeping Tom" had been watching his family from next door and attacked the house with a bat and graffiti spray – even though no-one was living there.
Patrick Garner twice attacked the door of the empty house with a bat and on a separate occasion sprayed the words "No Peeping Toms, Stalker" on the garden fence because he feared someone was watching him.
He said he could hear people inside the house banging on his walls and feared they were watching him, Welshpool Magistrates Court was told.
But the house had been empty for two years and had the locks glued shut.
Garner, 46, of New Road in Newtown, admitted three charges of criminal damage relating to August 9, 12 and 22 when he appeared at court.
He was given a six-month community order with supervision and was ordered to pay a £50 fine, £85 costs, a £60 victim surcharge and £200 compensation to the owner of the house.
Mrs Helen Tench, prosecuting, said: "A property in New Road has been up for sale and not lived in for two years.
"There had been rubbish dumped in the garden and some vandalism, so the owner had a CCTV camera installed.
"Upon reviewing the footage, the defendant was seen attacking the door twice and spraying graffiti on the wall on another occasion.
"The graffiti said phrases like 'No Peeping Toms, Stalker' and similar.
"Under interview, the defendant said it was because he thought people were snooping on him and his family.
"He said he thought people were going in the house and he attacked the door to get them to come out."
Mr Paul Inns, for Garner, said: "The house had been empty for a long time and as he lives next door with his partner and four children he was concerned for their safety.
"He thought someone was next door and with children in the house he became quite worried.
"He had heard noise and decided to let them know he knew they were there.
"He has offered to compensate the owner."
