Drunk vandal caused extensive damage to car

May 6 2010 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

A DRUNKEN vandal who caused £3000 worth of damage to a stranger’s car has been tagged.

Richard Bissett kicked and jumped on the Vauxhall Astra in a car park at flats in Deans South after leaving a house party with three friends in the early hours of February 1 this year a local court was told this week.

The 20-year-old repeatedly kicked, struck and jumped on the car’s bonnet and roof, causing extensive damage to the car and costing its owner £500 in insurance excess to get repaired.

This week at Livingston Sheriff Court, Bissett, whose address was given as Falcon Brae, Livingston pled guilty to wilfully and recklessly causing damage to the car.

However, despite initially ordering Bissett to pay back the full £500 back in compensation Sheriff Douglas Kinloch was persuaded to reduce this to £400 as his solicitor claimed Bissett’s three friends were also involved in the incident.

Defence agent Darryl Lovie told the sheriff court that while none of them had been prosecuted for the offence they had been given community work orders, an alternative to a court sentence, by the procurator fiscal’s office.

“If they were not involved then it seems strange they were offered community work orders of 10 hours each,” the solicitor added.

“This, in my submission, highlights difficulties with the current diversion from prosecution policy.

“The Crown has denied the court the chance to punish these other three offenders.

“If a form of compensation is offered by way of disposal by your lordship it would be inequitable if my client was to bear the full cost if there were four people involved.”

Mr Lovie said Bissett, who was already on probation at the time of the offence and had a large number of outstanding hours of community service to complete, had changed since becoming a father earlier in the year.

“He doesn’t remember too much about damaging the car. It is fair to say that all the parties involved were significantly under the influence of alcohol.

“He is anxious to move forward and avoid conflict with the criminal justice system in the future,” the solicitor added.

“Bissett was given probation last year in the full knowledge that he needed help in the community.

“I understand that he is engaging well with probation.

“This was an act of mindless vandalism and the type of behaviour I am sure is currently being addressed on his probation order.

“My submission is that the probation should be allowed to continue as it is ultimately in he public interest.”

Ordering Bissett to carry out 220 hours of community service Sheriff Kinloch said: “Last year I made you subject to a community service order of 200 hours and that was in respect of a fairly serious charge.

“I did that as an alternative to imprisonment as at the time you only had one conviction

“I now find you have not attended at work placements and in addition since then you have amassed a number of convictions and you are now appearing in front of the court facing a new charge of damaging a car which cost £3000. It seems to me it was just wanton, mindless vandalism.

“If you go on the way you are going you are very likely to end up in prison.

“ However I am going to give you another chance to put something back into the community.”

Bissett was also given a restriction of liberty order for five months meaning he has to stay in between 7am and 7pm each day.

Sheriff Kinloch initially order the 20-year-old to pay £500 in compensation, but after an objection from his solicitor changed his mind.

“I think £400 is perhaps a more appropriate amount bearing in mind your income and the fact you say others were involved,” the sheriff concluded.