Shane Bryant admitted to criminal damage and assaulting a police officer
An Exeter resident has been ordered to compensate his neighbour after destroying a cherished garden ornament that had been handed down through her family for generations.
Shane Bryant, 51, who lives on Wellington Road in Alphington, admitted to criminal damage and assaulting a police officer at Exeter Magistrates' Court following an incident on June 4.
The court heard Bryant became enraged after discovering he had received less cannabis than expected from his neighbour's partner.
"This incident arose because he took the cannabis home, weighed it, and found out he had been undersold. He went over and lost his temper," his defence solicitor explained.
Prosecutor Simon Dusting told the court Bryant arrived at the complainant's home, where a heated verbal exchange took place.
He then made his way to the rear of the property and began hurling objects at a window whilst brandishing a sizeable stick.
The gnome, valued at £50, was destroyed during the confrontation.
Bryant continued shouting, swearing and banging on the window for approximately 15 minutes before departing the scene, prompting the victim to contact police.
In a statement read to the court, the complainant described how the damaged ornament held deep sentimental significance, having been passed through multiple generations of her family.
The victim also expressed fear about Bryant, telling the court: "He scares me, knowing how he can be and the weapons he keeps in the house."
However, it emerged these supposed weapons were actually decorative pieces from Bryant's extensive collection of Lord of the Rings memorabilia.
His solicitor told the court Bryant had resided on Wellington Road for many years without any problems with the complainant until her partner moved in.
The defence explained Bryant suffers from ongoing physical health issues stemming from a serious workplace accident that left him with a severe chest injury.
The complainant's partner had suggested cannabis as a form of pain management.
When police arrived and located Bryant nearby, he inadvertently headbutted a constable while being detained, resulting in an additional arrest for assault.
His solicitor maintained Bryant was genuinely remorseful and had not intended to strike the officer. Between six and ten officers attended the scene, and Bryant had resisted because he believed police were being heavy-handed based on previous encounters and feared aggravating his chest injury.
District Judge Smith noted Bryant's history of violent offences from more than a decade ago, stating: "This is hopefully not a return to behaviour we have seen in the past."
Bryant received a £50 fine for criminal damage and £200 for assaulting an emergency worker, alongside £50 compensation each to the gnome's owner and the injured officer, plus £185 in surcharges and court costs.
