A teenager who went on a spree spray painting vehicle and buildings in Tenby, including daubing male genitalia on the side wall of a hotel, has been handed a community order in court this week.
Eighteen-year-old Daniel Thomas Bain, appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Tuesday to admit three charges of criminal damage that occurred in Tenby on October 2 of last year.
Mr. Bain also pleaded guilty to two counts of theft from Tesco in Pembroke Dock, and a further bail act offence charge.
The court heard that the defendant who had recently been evicted from his flat on Victoria Road in Pembroke Dock, and was residing with his father on the Maudlins in Tenby temporarily, had committed the theft offences over a three day period last month.
He admitted stealing a bottle of cloudy scrumpy cider on January 16 to the value of £5, and two days later returned to the same Tesco store to steal £10 more worth of alcohol.
Prosecutor Abul Hussain told the court that on October 2 Mr. Bain caused criminal damage to two vehicles parked just off the Esplanade on Picton Terrace, spraying green paint on a Honda Civic car, and a Suzuki motorcycle, which was captured on CCTV.
Mr. Bain who was identified along with others from the footage, was also seen spraying the words ‘Tenby BMT’ on the side wall of the Giltar Hotel, along with a drawing of male genitalia.
“In a police interview, Mr. Bain said that he was heavily intoxicated when the acts were committed,” said Mr. Hussain.
“He has previous convictions for a number of shoplifting offences since the start of last year, and is in breach of a conditional discharge issued in October,” he added.
Defence solicitor Jonathan Webb told the court that the spray painting in Tenby was part of a spate involving Mr Bain and others all in the same locality.
“There have been no compensation claims made, although an employee of the Giltar Hotel would have had to spend a day painting over the damaged wall.
“The bike that was damaged has been parked outside Tenby Bowling Club for months and months, and has since been taken away as an abandoned vehicle.
“The offences show a level of immaturity since Mr. Bain turned eighteen - he has got in with the wrong crowd, and committed petty offences in the community, partly due to a lack of employment opportunities. He moved down to the area with his father, but the long term plan is for him to return to Hemel Hempstead to live with his mother,” added Mr. Webb.
Probation officer Julie Norman told the court that substance and alcohol misuse, along with mental health issues, had led to Mr. Bain’s anti social behaviour.
“When he first came to the area he was working, but since then it’s all gone wrong - his benefits have been stopped, and he has been racking up convictions,” she told magistrates.
In sentencing Mr. Bain, magistrates told him that he was on a ‘slippery slope’ as all the offences before them today, along with the fact he was in breach of a conditional discharge, made matters quite serious.
Magistrates handed Mr. Bain a 12 month community order, to include a 20 day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR), and 120 hours of unpaid work in the community.
He was ordered to pay £100 compensation to the Giltar Hotel in Tenby and £15 to Tesco in Pembroke Dock, along with prosecution costs of £85 and an £85 victim surcharge.