Man ‘totally lost it’ and smashed ornaments, TV and TV stand in his mother’s house

A man arrested for smashing up his mother’s household belongings smeared faeces over the walls of a police cell, a court heard on Thursday.
Pacemaker Press 22/5/2013   Belfast High Court Building  in Belfast City centre  Pic Colm Lenaghan/PacemakerPacemaker Press 22/5/2013   Belfast High Court Building  in Belfast City centre  Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker
Pacemaker Press 22/5/2013 Belfast High Court Building in Belfast City centre Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

Kurtis Edgar was given a suspended prison sentence for an outburst described by the judge as “absolutely terrifying”.

The 25-year-old was also ordered to pay his mother half the estimated £1,000 damage in compensation.

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Belfast Magistrates’ Court heard she discovered him, apparently under the influence of a substance, at her home in the city on February 19 this year.

Laganside court complex in Belfast city centre.Laganside court complex in Belfast city centre.
Laganside court complex in Belfast city centre.

Prosecutors said Edgar “totally lost it” when she refused a request for her bank card.

“He stated that he would smash up the living room, and proceeded to smash ornaments, a television and television stand,” a Crown lawyer said.

Edgar’s volatile behaviour continued in custody, where he allegedly declared: “I’m going to s*** all over your cell.”

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According to the prosecution he then smeared faeces and wrote his name on the walls. He also put a pillow down the toilet and spat at a CCTV camera,.

The defendant, of Chichester Park Central in Ballymena, pleaded guilty to three counts of criminal damage.

Deputy District Judge Liam McStay told him: “It’s bad enough to damage your mother’s property, but it’s absolutely terrifying for her to witness that.”

Ruling that the offences crossed the threshold for a custodial sentence, Mr McStay decided to suspend the four-month term for two years.

He directed Edgar to pay his mother £500 compensation, and to reimburse police £32.55 to cover the cost of the pillow.