Andrew Webb, 32, pleaded guilty to destruction of property and being armed with an offensive weapon with intent to commit a crime when he appeared before the Magistrate’s Court on March 7, 2014. Photo: VINO

According to the Crown, Webb, while being armed with a kitchen knife, slashed four car tyres of a female friend’s car on September 22, 2013 after he had become enraged. The tyres were valued at $620.

On the day in question, Webb was with the Virtual Complainant (VC) and another woman at his food stall in Huntums Ghut and they began cleaning the stall but realised that it was out of produce.

The friend of the VC’s who recognised they were out of produce recommended the VC take her home as the defendant was behaving aggressively.

However, she realised she had left her mobile phone in the food stall and the VC returned to retrieve the phone. When she went back she saw the defendant with a knife which he used to puncture her car tyres after she declined to stay on account of his behaviour.

The VC left and went to a garage where she had the tyre replaced with a dummy tyre from her vehicle and proceeded home.

On her way home, the VC received a call from her daughter who informed her that Webb was at her home and trying to gain access to the house. The defendant approached the vehicle as the VC arrived home and asked to speak with her but she rolled the windows up and asked him to leave.

When the defendant went behind the house the VC went inside and locked the door. It was at this point that he proceeded to puncture the remaining three tyres. Police were later called and a report was made of the incident before Webb was charged the next day.

When asked by Magistrate Velon L. John to explain his behaviour, Webb, who told the court that he does culinary work at various kitchens, said he had not been acting rudely, but was instead trying to explain something to the VC at the time and complained that he was being interrupted by someone else. “I don’t really have an anger management problem,” he told the court.

Magistrate John chastised the defendant and told him his behaviour was uncalled for, “You shouldn’t be taking out your knife under those circumstances,” he instructed Webb.

He told the defendant that the mere act of having a knife was not the issue but it was the intent that transformed the act into a criminal offence.

Additionally, the Magistrate said the VC appeared satisfied after she explained to the court that she had received compensation both for the damaged tyres and the rental vehicle she was forced to pay for.

Webb was fined $250 for each offence and given up to March 14, 2014 to pay the fines. He was also placed on a bond to keep the peace, particularly with the defendant.

The defendant was further instructed to seek counselling to address his anger management issues by attending the Partnership for Peace Programme at the Sandy Lane Centre. He will return to court on April 17, 2014.