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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Jail term for digger damage man | Jail term for digger damage man |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A 53-year-old man who drove a digger into his landlord's house in a row over money has been sentenced to six years in prison. | A 53-year-old man who drove a digger into his landlord's house in a row over money has been sentenced to six years in prison. |
| Robert Taylor admitted destroying the house in Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex, and being reckless as to whether life was endangered in June this year. | Robert Taylor admitted destroying the house in Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex, and being reckless as to whether life was endangered in June this year. |
| He also pleaded guilty to destroying vehicles and assaulting a policeman. | He also pleaded guilty to destroying vehicles and assaulting a policeman. |
| Taylor, from Bradwell-on-Sea, thought he had been "ripped off" and "lost it", Chelmsford Crown Court was told. | Taylor, from Bradwell-on-Sea, thought he had been "ripped off" and "lost it", Chelmsford Crown Court was told. |
| 'Ripped off' | 'Ripped off' |
| The demolished bungalow was owned by James Harvard, 52, and Janice Gledhill, 57, who also owned a nearby caravan park. | The demolished bungalow was owned by James Harvard, 52, and Janice Gledhill, 57, who also owned a nearby caravan park. |
| Taylor lived in a caravan on the park. | Taylor lived in a caravan on the park. |
| He hired the digger and stopped to buy a sandwich and newspaper as he drove it to the bungalow. | He hired the digger and stopped to buy a sandwich and newspaper as he drove it to the bungalow. |
| It is estimated Taylor caused £300,000 worth of damage | It is estimated Taylor caused £300,000 worth of damage |
| Ms Gledhill saw him arrive and called the police. | Ms Gledhill saw him arrive and called the police. |
| But Taylor continued his "frenzy of destruction", the court heard. | But Taylor continued his "frenzy of destruction", the court heard. |
| Taylor admitted destroying a Chrysler Crossfire belonging to Ms Gledhill, destroying a Chrysler C300 belonging to Mr Harvard, damaging a Ford Focus police car and assaulting Pc Martyn Leggett. | Taylor admitted destroying a Chrysler Crossfire belonging to Ms Gledhill, destroying a Chrysler C300 belonging to Mr Harvard, damaging a Ford Focus police car and assaulting Pc Martyn Leggett. |
| Pc Leggett, 24, who was assaulted as he climbed on to the digger to try to stop Taylor, said afterwards: "I have never seen anything like it in my life." | Pc Leggett, 24, who was assaulted as he climbed on to the digger to try to stop Taylor, said afterwards: "I have never seen anything like it in my life." |
| It is estimated that he caused more than £300,000 of damage. |