Pig breeder smashed up Notts home after Father Christmas plea ignored

A pig breeder ransacked the house of his ex-partner after she ignored his pleas to take their son to see Father Christmas.
NEWS from Nottingham Magistrates' Court.NEWS from Nottingham Magistrates' Court.
NEWS from Nottingham Magistrates' Court.

The woman returned home to find every room in her home damaged, except the room belonging to their three-year-old son, with a radiator torn from the wall and the television set smashed in.

Phillip Humphreys admitted breaking into the semi-detached house on December 8.

Nottingham Crown Court heard their six-year relationship broke up in summer 2014 and Humphreys had subsequently received a harassment warning from the police.

Sarah Knight, prosecuting, said: “She didn’t see him until December 8, the morning she received a letter pushed through her letterbox asking if he could take the children to see Father Christmas after school.

“Just after lunch she saw him walking down the side of the property. She didn’t answer the door. After he had gone she saw that a plant pot had been thrown and a children’s swing had been knocked over.”

A neighbour reported noises from the rear of the house on Hempshill Lane, Bulwell, “as if he was kicking in the back door” and police were called.

Ms Knight said: “When he saw the police he took to his toes and ran.

“There was a short chase and he was arrested. He was wearing black gloves and had two keys which he said his ex-partner had given him.”

The court heard cabinet doors had been pulled off, a washing machine had been pushed over and water was dripping from where a radiator had been torn from the wall.

The television had been kicked over and a footprint on the screen matched Humphreys’ trainers.

In all £735 of damage was done.

Humphreys, aged 45, of Little Lunnon, Barton in Fabis, initially denied breaking in and smashing up the house.

Ms Knight said: “He promoted the idea his ex-partner had tried to set him up as they were going to mediation.”

The court heard he had a record of dishonesty with burglaries dating back to 1986.

Christopher Brewin, mitigating, said: “ Humphreys seems to have changed his ways completely since the commission of this offence. There is a gap of nearly 20 years when he has not troubled the court at all.

“Then there’s a spiral downwards which lasts four or five years.

“The police were called to this address on a number of occasions prior to the burglary. He lost his work as a pig breeder and started drinking more and more.

“In December 2012 police were called because he cut his own wrists.

“He became more and more emotional because he was denied contact with his son.”

Since the burglary, the court heard he had started a new relationship, found work and was seeing his son regularly.

Sentencing, Judge Jeremy Lea told Humphreys: “This is pretty appalling conduct. You were upset you weren’t seeing your son.

“How you thought you could improve matters by breaking into her home, ripping the radiators off the walls and trying to trash her kitchen, I don’t know.

“You have gained some advantage because of the delays, rightly or wrongly.”

Humphreys was handed a 15-month jail term, suspended for a year, a 12-month supervision order and a restraining order.

He was also ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work and pay compensation of £750.

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