A man wearing only boxer shorts used a vacuum cleaner and a plank of wood to smash up eight neighbours' cars after an argument with his partner, causing £100,000 worth of damage.
Details of the Incident
Gareth Phare, 34, attacked vehicles including an Audi Quattro, a BMW, a VW Passat, two Smart Cars, a Ford Puma, a Ford Focus, and a Toyota. The rampage occurred just after 10am on October 21, 2024, near his home in Basildon.
Phare used a plank of wood, a vacuum cleaner, and a metal object to batter the windows of the parked cars. He would periodically go back inside his block of flats before emerging with a new weapon, prosecutor Tom Ford told Basildon Crown Court.
Racial Aggravation
When a black neighbour confronted Phare as he smashed up his BMW, Phare screamed the N-word, leaving the neighbour feeling 'unsafe', the court heard.
Mental Health Background
Defence barrister George Smart said Phare suffered from multiple mental conditions, including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, obsessive compulsive disorder, Tourette's syndrome, and PTSD. He was in a state of 'very acute distress' following a 'serious argument' with his partner.
Phare, a former homeless man, had been housed in emergency accommodation and lived on benefits while battling drug dependency. He failed to attend court on three occasions, leading to his arrest and remand in April.
Sentence and Compensation
Judge Richard Conley sentenced Phare to 50 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months. He must also complete 40 rehabilitation days and 150 hours of unpaid work. The judge expressed regret that he could not order compensation, as Phare had no money available to pay.
Judge Conley said: 'You were using all manner of things to smash windows and windscreens and cause untold damage and misery to entirely innocent victims.'
