A man damaged the window of a Newcastle city centre restaurant because he was "frustrated" at being stalked while on a night out.
Josh Fitzpatrick was on a night out in the city on October 23 when CCTV captured him striking the window of Yo Yo Noodle on Grainger Street in the early hours of the morning. The 20-year-old caused over £1,000 worth of damage after elbowing the window four times.
Fitzpatrick, of High Street East, Wallsend, Newcastle, appeared at Newcastle Magistrates' Court on Monday to be sentenced for criminal damage. He pleaded guilty to the single charge at the morning hearing.
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Kingsley Njoku, prosecuting, said CCTV operators were monitoring Grainger Street when they saw Fitzpatrick in the early hours of the morning outside Yo Yo Noodle. He said: "The defendant struck the window four times with his elbow. Operators monitored his movements and updated police on his location."
Shortly after 3am police went to the street and arrested Fitzpatrick, who later gave a no comment interview. The court heard he had no previous convictions.
Nigel Boddy, defending, said: "The defendant is very contrite and feels awful. He had been for a night out and had been stalked by a woman leading up to the incident and he was extremely frustrated and intoxicated. He took out his frustration on the window and is extremely sorry. He recognises it was completely unacceptable." Mr Boddy added that Fitzpatrick is currently in training to work in a call centre.
Magistrates ordered Fitzpatrick to pay £1,200 compensation to the restaurant. He will pay back £20 a months.
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