Drunk in court after attacking Lord Mayor's Jaguar

A drunk attacked the Lord Mayor of Coventry’s Jaguar, claiming he’d been incensed after seeing a beggar near the council house.



Marc Halford said he was so angry at the ‘‘social injustice’’ of the situation that he lashed out at the limo.

Lord Mayor Tim Sawdon had just got into the black civic saloon with its 1COV registration plate when the bizarre attack took place.

Coventry magistrates court heard Halford caused up to £400 damage to the car in a fit of drunken rage.

Halford, aged 32, of Glebe Close, Tile Hill, punched the wing mirror of the Lord Mayor’s car which was parked outside the Council House in Earl Street. Coun Sawdon was leaving after a civic function.

Halford pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal damage.

John Bartlett, prosecuting, said the defendant was angry after seeing a beggar sitting near the Council House while the Lord Mayor approached his Jaguar.

He had been drinking at a pub earlier in the day when the incident happened just before Christmas.

Mr Bartlett said: “The defendant was interviewed by police. He was drinking in a pub earlier and went to the Council House to be picked up by his partner. He had passed a person begging and saw the Lord Mayor.

‘‘In his drunken state vented his anger and shouted at the Lord Mayor. He hit the wing mirror of the Mayor’s car causing damage to the value estimated between £300 and £400.”

Stephen Millerchip, defending, said: “He had mental health issues in the past and a number of problems related to alcohol. He agrees with the version that we’ve heard.

“He had been to the pub and was going to meet his girlfriend who was going to give him a lift home.

"He saw a beggar on the street and sees the Lord Mayor emerging from the Council House. In a drunken state he was struck with some sort of social injustice with the Lord Mayor on one hand and the beggar on the other hand. He overreacted in a very stupid way to which he is remorseful.

“It’s an offence of criminal damage and a relatively minor amount of damage caused and clearly on the other hand the victim is a public servant.”

The case has been adjourned until February 1. Halford was granted unconditional bail.

Community order for drunk who attacked Coventry Lord Mayor's Jag

A 32-YEAR-OLD who damaged the Lord Mayor of Coventry’s car in a drunken fit of rage has been slapped with a community order.

Marc Halford, of Glebe Close, Tile Hill, swore at the Mayor and admitted punching the wing mirror of the Jaguar claiming he was angry at the ‘social injustice’ of seeing a beggar near the council house.

Lord Mayor Tim Sawdon had just got into the black civic saloon with its 1COV registration plate when the incident happened.

At Coventry Crown Court on Friday, Halford was handed a community order for one year and ordered to pay costs of £178 to the council, prosecution and independent garage where the repairs were carried out.

Ninda Gill, prosecuting, said: “The chauffeur parked the Jaguar outside the council house in a waiting area for the Lord Mayor following a function.

“He greeted the Lord Mayor and Mayoress as he normally did and pulled open the rear side of the door. He was aware of a man approaching on foot who got within touching distance of the Mayor and Lady Mayoress to which he said ‘you want sacking as well.’

“The chauffeur got the Mayor safely into the back of the car and got into the vehicle himself. The chauffeur was also aware of two other colleagues nearby at that time.

“They tried to calm the man down. The man then approached the wing mirror of the side of the car. He was aggressive and about to kick the car. He lashed his arm towards the back of the mirror.”

Karl Brankin, defending, said Halford had lashed out after drinking excessively because he’d been denied contact with his newborn baby by his ex-partner.

Mr Brankin said: “It was the most unfortunate incident. He was at his lowest ebb and seriously unwell. He was contemplating doing himself serious harm but he has managed to get through that.

“He wouldn’t consider himself a social crusader. It was more a matter of circumstances in this instance. He was having a problem with someone in the pub and with all the problems swimming around in his mind about his ex-partner and lack of contact with his child he lashed out. He also had more alcohol than he should have.

“He saw a homeless person who was clearly asking for money and a few steps away he saw the Lord Mayor who seemed to have been to an expensive event and thought it was some sort of social injustice.

“He has no particular problem with the Mayor but that contrast in society resonated with him. It is unacceptable behaviour. He apologises for that and expresses remorse.”