Driver caused £4000 worth of damage in 'moment of madness' after row with ex-partner

A Castletown driver ran amok after falling out with her former partner.

Wendy Jones got behind the wheel of her car and drove around the rural home of her ex-partner Donald McIntosh’s new girlfriend, Penelope Hay, causing more than £4000 of damage, Wick Sheriff Court was told on Monday.

During her “moment of madness” Jones left tyre marks on her lawn and drove into Mr McIntosh’s car and Miss Hay’s vehicle before selecting other targets.

Jones (57) admitted causing the damage and was ordered to pay Miss Hay compensation of £1200.

Sheriff Mark Lindsay QC heard that Jones and Mr McIntosh, who are employed by the same firm, had split up in October 2021 following a relationship of some years, but remained on good terms.

On April 8, Jones, of Olrig Mains Road, Castletown, had occasion to call at Miss Hay’s home in Halkirk on April 8, to see Mr McIntosh in connection with a receipt, having tried unsuccessfully to contact him by phone. Mr McIntosh retained his own home in Sir John’s Square, Thurso.

Fiscal Sue Foard said that “things didn’t go well” with the visit and continued: “Jones became angry and proceeded to use her car as a tool to cause a significant amount of damage which included deliberately hitting Mr McIntosh’s car and Miss Hay’s vehicle, knocking the stable doors off their hinges, driving over the lawn, knocking a tree over and hitting a fence, garden ornaments, and pots.

"Mr McIntosh tried, unsuccessfully, to stop Jones but retreated into Miss Hay’s house and contacted the police.”

The fiscal said that officers found Jones sitting in her vehicle, which was also damaged.

Miss Foard continued: “She was clearly upset but was polite and reasonable with the officers and admitted her actions and said she should not have done what she did.

"She left a message for Miss Hay, a couple of weeks later, apologising and saying she would pay for the damage.”

Solicitor Fiona MacDonald said that she couldn’t say whether the damage of £4272 had been paid or if repairs had been carried out. She added that Jones had mental health issues for which she had sought help.

Sheriff Lindsay said he took that into account, along with the fact that the accused had apologised for her “moment of madness”.

The sheriff ordered Jones to pay Miss Hay compensation of £1200, at the rate of £100 per month, but refrained from making the accused, a first offender, subject to a non-harassment order requested by Mr McIntosh and Miss Hay.