A Perth roofer has been ordered to pay compensation to business rivals after he was caught on CCTV smashing up their work vans.
Mark Dillon and colleague Euan Boyes used a variety of tools to hobble the vehicles while they were parked outside their opponents’ home.
Images released by the Crown Office show the aftermath of the attack on a Citreon Xsara Picasso and a Ford Transit, owned by father-and-son tradesmen Mark and Chad Netherington.
Dillon appeared at Perth Sheriff Court for sentencing this week, having previously admitted targeting the vans and smashing their windscreens in the city’s Kingswell Terrace on October 21 2019.
The 32-year-old father-of-one was ordered to pay the Netheringtons £800 compensation and he was fined £720.
Co-accused Boyes was fined £540 at a previous hearing but opted to spend the equivalent in jail – about 28 days – after requesting no time to pay.
Three-year feud
The court heard the reasons behind a three-year-old feud between the rival roofers had been “lost in time”.
Fiscal depute David Currie said the Netheringtons were at home when their vans were vandalised in the street outside.
“Witnesses heard the noise of banging and smashing,” he told the court.
“A mother who was collecting her children from school noticed that there were two males using tools to smash the windscreens of vehicles outside the complainers’ house.
“She observed they were in possession of various implements.”
The Netheringtons looked out their window and saw both accused.
However, they did not cooperate with investigators and refused to say who the men were or why they were attacking their vans.
Mr Currie said: “CCTV was reviewed and from this police were able to identify both accused.”
The court heard the cost to repair the damage caused was around £1,600.
A solicitor for Dillon, of Thistle Place, Scone, said: “He does accept that his conduct was not acceptable and he is apologetic.”
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