A vandal smashed up a woman's car with a pickaxe handle in a revenge attack after falling out with her son.
Shay Brown and an accomplice used what they thought was the cover of darkness to pull up outside the woman's home and damage her vehicle in a "frenzied attack".
The 23-year-old then fled the scene but he was soon traced after being caught on CCTV, a court was told.
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Brown caused damage worth more than £2,000 to repair to the Volvo, which was written off, and left the woman so terrified she still "struggled to eat or sleep".
Now, Brown, of Ravensmede Cottages, in Alnwick, has been given a 12-month community order and must pay £500 compensation after he pleaded guilty to criminal damage.
James Long, prosecuting at South East Northumberland Magistrates' Court, said the victim had been "experiencing difficulties" with Brown and his family in the days prior to the incident.
On August 17 last year, she was at home when she heard a loud banging outside.
Mr Long continued: "She looks outside to see the defendant and another male have arrived in a vehicle, got out and then, with pickaxe handles, have started to cause considerable damage to her vehicle.
"She identifies the defendant as one of the males responsible.
"They caused significant damage to the vehicle to the extent that the insurers have written it off. It was valued at £2,500.
"It was a brief but frenzied attack. It was pre-meditated."
The court heard that Brown had bought the pickaxes at a local Homebase store prior to the incident and had rented the car he arrived at the scene in.
In a statement, the victim said: "The incident that took places outside my home made me and my family feel harassment, alarm and distress.
"I don't feel safe in my own home or at work. I feel threatened while at home or at work.
"I feel scared thinking an attack will happen against me or my family. I struggle to sleep and eat."
The court heard that Brown had suffered significant trauma in his life and had damaged the vehicle in a revenge attack against the woman's son.
Mark Humble, defending, said Brown claimed the victim's son had previously damaged his vehicle.
Mr Humble added: "He's 23 years old and he's a young man with quite significant mental health difficulties.
"He suffers from anxiety and depression and feels stressed in a lot of situations, including today at court. He also suffers from post traumatic stress disorder."
Brown was also made subject of a two-year restraining order, which banned him from contacting the victim.
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