An “angry” Glenrothes man caused more £5,800 worth of damage to a deluxe sports car after smashing it up with a hammer.
Kenneth Morris spotted the Mercedes GLA 200 Sport Executive parked outside Poplar Building and Drainage Supplies on Newark Road North on May 2.
The vehicle belonged to Monika Markowska, the new girlfriend of Morris’s dad, and he became angry believing his father was trying to force the pair to meet for the first time.
In a fit of rage, Morris grabbed a hammer and began attacking the vehicle, smashing the windows, headlights and wing mirrors.
The apprentice appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court on Monday after previously admitting wilfully or recklessly damaging property.
The cost of repairing the damage amounted to £5,807 with an additional £772 spent on transport costs as a result of Miss Markowska being unable to drive the vehicle.
Defence solicitor Deborah Ginniver said her client had been in Edinburgh for an MOT and had planned to travel back to Fife with his father
She added: “Mr Morris’ father advised that his new partner would be in the vehicle.
“This upset Mr Morris and he refused to go with him and made his own way home.
“On the way home he went past his father’s partner’s car and became angry, believing his father was orchestrating a meeting between him and his new partner.
“In terms of this offence, Mr Morris accepts full responsibility and accepts that his actions were wrong.
“They stem from a very difficult and abusive relationship with his father. A very controlling relationship. He has no contact and no desire to have any further contact with his father.”
The court was told Morris had told social workers preparing background reports that he would rather go to prison than pay his victim compensation for the damage.
Addressing Miss Ginniver, Sheriff Jamie Gilchrist QC said: “Your client may have felt angry but he has caused damage amounting to £6,500 so what is he going to do about that?
“He has said that he is not prepared to pay any compensation.”
Miss Ginniver said her client denied ever saying this and he would be willing to pay back the £500 that Miss Markowska had paid out in excess through her insurance.
Sheriff Gilchrist said: “It is difficult to take what has been said in your defence seriously as it contradicts almost entirely what was said to the social worker who prepared the background report.”
He ordered Morris to perform 200 hour of unpaid work within six months and told him to engage with anger management.
A compensation order was also granted for £500 to be paid back at a rate of £10 a week.
Morris also admitted a second charge of stealing a quantity of tickets and alcohol on the same date.