Downham man admits criminal damage in New Year row

A Downham man got arrested following a New Year’s Day gathering at his mother’s house.

Harvey Shorten had drunk 18 cans of beer and half a pint of sours when there was a falling out.

This was a normal alcohol intake for him, Lynn Magistrates’ Court heard on Thursday.

Shorten had a row with his sister before going outside. She locked the door behind him.

After returning from the back of the home in Methwold, Shorten picked up a wooden stake from the garden and threw it through the front window.

He then stuck his head through the hole and shouted abuse.

The 20-year-old defendant pleaded guilty to criminal damage and admitted breaching a six-month conditional discharge imposed in November 2020 for being drunk and disorderly.

Representing himself, Shorten, of James Scott Close, said in mitigation that he had taken big strides since the incident to address his drink problem.

He said he had cut down gradually from drinking two crates of beer a day to having not had a drink for the past week.

He was ordered to pay £300 compensation to Freebridge Community Housing. No action was taken on the breach of the conditional discharge.