North Staffordshire Magistrates Court
Tyre slasher saw red after driver parked outside his home
Simon Koyama was fed up with the car being left outside his address in Knype Way, Bradwell
Stoke-on-Trent Live
Frustrated Simon Koyama slashed a car tyre to deter the driver from parking outside his house.
The 48-year-old was fed up with people parking outside his Bradwell home and he used a garden tool to cut the tyre.
But he was arrested as a neighbour saw what he was doing and called the police.
Now Koyama has been hit with a £479 court bill at North Staffordshire Justice Centre.
Prosecutor Becky Dulson said a witness saw the defendant kneeling down by the back wheel of a car in Knype Way, Bradwell, at 3.20pm on December 22.
Miss Dulson said: "He saw he had an item in his hand. He thought he was holding a knife and he was making a cutting motion.
"The witness said the man was scraping at the body work and he could see marks in the paintwork.
"The man went to the back tyre and started sawing at it again. He kept doing it three times back and forth.
"The matter was reported to the police. The injured party was informed of what the witness had seen."
The defendant slashed a car tyre to stop the victim parking outside his home
The defendant was arrested. He admitted causing the damage, telling police he wanted to deter people from parking outside his home.
He said it had been going on for two years and he was annoyed by it. He said he hoped it would stop the victim parking there again. He said he used a garden tool to cut the tyre and he scratched the rear door several times.
He added he did not realise it could have led to a serious accident if the victim had not been told of the damage to the tyre.
The damage cost £250 to repair.
Koyama, of Knype Way, Bradwell, pleaded guilty to criminal damage.
The court heard he was initially given a conditional caution but he did not pay the compensation by April 13 as required.
Representing himself, Koyama said: "I tried to make the payment."
Magistrates fined Koyama £60 and ordered him to pay £250 compensation, £135 costs and a £34 surcharge.
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