Teen who drove man out of his home gets 12-month community order

A teenager must wear an alcohol tag alcohol for 120 days and complete 100 hours of unpaid work after his threatening and abusive behaviour drove a man out of his home.

Bath Magistrates’ Court

On 12th May and 20th May, Jack Greenwood intentionally caused the man harassment, alarm or distress by using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour at his home at Merlin Way in Westfield, near Radstock.

At a hearing in June, Bath magistrates were told that the incidents, which 19-year-old Greenwood admitted, were committed while he was drunk.

His behaviour had left the resident fearful for his and his family’s safety, and he had moved out of the area as a result.

There had been complaints from local people about children playing football on a nearby patch of land and Greenwood had taken issue with the resident about it.

Magistrates had asked the Probation Service to prepare a pre-sentence report and Greenwood, of Nightingale Way in Westfield, was back at the court for sentencing by District Judge Lynne Matthews last Wednesday, 26th August.

She told Greenwood he would have known of the man’s vulnerabilities and asked if he would like to say anything prior to sentencing him. Greenwood replied: “I should have thought before I done it.”

He was also being sentenced last Wednesday after admitting that in a police vehicle at Midsomer Norton on 1st January he intentionally caused a constable harassment, alarm or distress by using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour.

The 12-month community order the judge imposed also includes up to 10 rehabilitation activity requirement (RAR) days.

Greenwood must pay £100 compensation to the resident and the same amount to the police officer.

No order was made for costs or court surcharge due to Greenwood’s lack of means, with the judge saying that compensation took priority.