Drunk 30 year old who smashed window pane at former girlfriend’s house is fined

Dwayne Andrew Bratton, of Main Street, Lack, was charged with the criminal damage of a door and doorframe on December 14 last year.

Defending solicitor, Naill Bogue, entered a guilty plea on behalf of his client at Fermanagh Magistrates Court on Monday.

The court heard that, at 5am, police received a 999 call from a person at an address in Erne Park, Kesh. The person alleged that the defendant had been shouting outside the property, before breaking a window.

The injured party told officers that Bratton had been shouting through the letterbox and kicking the front door, breaking the window pane.

Police were informed that the occupants of the house had been “scared” of the defendant’s actions.

A silver Volkswagen Bora was subsequently stopped in Lack. It had previously failed to stop for police and had been driven dangerously at speeds of up to 70mph on country roads.

Bratton was a passenger in this vehicle, the court heard.

When he was later interviewed by police in December last year, the defendant did not admit involvement in the offence.

Mr Bogue told the court that an estimated £85 damage had been caused to the door and he had the sum in court to pay restitution.

Acknowledging that the defendant had made a “particularly bad decision”, the solicitor said there was no shying away from the fact that the incident reflected badly on his client.

In mitigation, Mr Bogue said the defendant had one previous relevant conviction dating back to 2006 and wasn’t prone to this type of behaviour.

Deputy district judge Neil Rafferty observed that the defendant had taken alcohol and gone to the home of his former girlfriend and her current partner was also present.

The judge said Bratton had then attacked the house.

Describing the incident as “effectively” a case of domestic violence, Mr Rafferty ordered the defendant to pay a £300 fine and make £85 restitution.

He was given 20 weeks to pay.