(Image: Paul Sanders)
A RESIDENT annoyed by people using the cul-de-sac where he lives as a car park took direct action, York Magistrates Court heard.
Ian Durham, 67, had never been in trouble with the police before July 20 this year.
Today he has a criminal record and a conviction for criminal damage to a car.
Georgina Fishwick, prosecuting, told the court dashcam footage of him showed him walking along his home street of Bowling Green Court off Haxby Road, north York, with “what appears to be a blade in his hand”.
“He walked past the vehicle and damaged it as he does so,” she said.
Defence solicitor Andrew Craven said: “It is part of a dispute between the residents and people using their space to park in from out of the area.”
The residents had taken their concerns to City of York Council but “there was no help from the council”.
Mr Craven said: “He took matters into his own hands. He deeply regrets it now."
Durham pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage.
A district judge ordered him to pay the car owner £250 compensation plus £85 prosecution costs and did not impose any other sentence.
He did not comment as he left court.
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Durham’s street is a few minutes' walk from Nestlé, Nuffield Health Private Hospital and University York St John playing fields.