Yob damaged Brighton taxi's car window with glass bottle
http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/16267843 ... ss_bottle/
A YOB has been ordered to pay compensation to a taxi driver after smashing a car window with a bottle.
Oliver Brimson appeared before Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Saturday where he admitted causing criminal damage.
Leanne James, prosecuting, said that the 19-year-old had been chased by police in Boundary Road, Portslade, after officers saw him smashing the taxi window in an unprovoked attack in May.
She said: “For no apparent reason he approached the car and then smashed the rear side window with a glass bottle.
“Police officers gave chase and caught up with him, by which point he had discarded his shirt and shoes.
“He was drunk at the time and provided false details to the police.”
Ms James said the taxi belonged to Asif Khan, whose wife is expecting a baby imminently.
The damage to the window cost him £95 on his insurance excess and also meant he missed the busy bank holiday weekend with potential earnings of £800.
She added: “This incident was unprovoked and mindless criminal damage which resulted in a significant financial loss to Mr Khan.”
In his defence, Brinson, of Percival Terrace in Brighton, had claimed to have been swinging the glass bottle randomly while passing the vehicles, and had not intended to cause the damage.
Brinson grew up in care, and suffers from mental health problems including depression, and had caused the damage in breach of a suspended sentence.
Magistrate Alan Hardy said the incident was “unpleasant” and had caused Mr Khan a great deal of distress.
He ordered Brinson to pay £95 in compensation to Mr Khan for the insurance excess, and extended the suspended sentence from one year to two years.
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