TWO men were caught on camera smashing up a woman’s £12,500 black Mercedes with an axe and a hammer in a night-time revenge attack, Bradford Crown Court heard. 

The car, parked on her driveway in Wibsey in Bradford, was written-off after the rear window and four back lights were smashed and ‘pretty well all the paintwork’ was scratched.

Dean Doyle, 41, of Grayswood Drive, Holme Wood, Bradford, pleaded guilty to criminal damage to the C Class vehicle on February 2, 2020.

The court heard that he was currently serving a nine-year prison sentence in HMP Lindholme imposed in April, 2021.

Doyle was jailed for five years for possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence after a shotgun was fired through a house window at an address in the Holme Wood area of Bradford on April 10, 2020.

He also admitted conspiracy to supply Class A drugs dating from 2017 and dangerous driving and received a four-year sentence to run consecutively.

Prosecutor Brian Russell said the owner of the Mercedes arrived home to find the car extensively damaged. Her home security system with night vision enabled had captured the two culprits setting about it with an axe and a hammer.

Mr Russell said it was ‘a pretty determined effort’ with ‘pretty well all the paintwork scratched and damaged'. 

The car, valued at £12,500, was a write-off, he said.

The court heard that the woman knew Doyle and recognised him as one of the people attacking her car.

Jeremy Hill-Baker said in mitigation that he had pleaded guilty to criminal damage at the first opportunity at the magistrates’ court.

He was already serving nine years and, given the principle of totality, his release date should not be delayed by this offence.

Mr Hill-Baker said the damage was caused in between the two offences Doyle was jailed for in April, 2021. If the judge sentencing him then had known about the damage matter, it would not have increased his overall sentence.

Recorder Patrick Palmer said the Mercedes was extensively damaged. Two people armed with an axe and a hammer were shown smashing it up, writing it off.

Recorder Palmer said it was a revenge attack after an argument.

The maximum sentence was six months and he reduced it to four months to take account of Doyle's guilty plea.

The sentence will run concurrently with the nine years meaning that Doyle will not have to spend any longer behind bars. 

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