An “arrogant” council tenant trashed his Perth city centre flat, forcing part of his block to become condemned.
Andrew Dawson caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to his home in St Catherine’s Square.
He then demanded Perth and Kinross Council give him a new flat, telling them: “I’ll destroy that as well”.
The 25-year-old caused extensive flooding, smashed chunks out of walls and exposed electric cables.
His life-threatening rampage caused water damage in three others flats, Perth Sheriff Court heard.
Unable to afford immediate repairs, the local authority was forced to temporarily condemn the apartments.
Complaint from neighbour
Dawson pled guilty to a charge of malicious mischief.
Fiscal depute Andrew Harding told the court that tenants in flat number 20, living below Dawson, called Tayside Contracts at 8.30am on November 26 2019.
They reported water flowing from the ceiling, coming into the kitchen, hallway and bathroom.
A council engineer was sent to the flat above to investigate, said Mr Harding.
He knocked several times and shouted through the letterbox but could not rouse the occupants.
The worker used a master key to get inside and found Dawson and another man in the living room.
Dawson was told to leave the property.
Damage was ‘risk to life’
Mr Harding said that the kitchen cooker had been “destroyed” and cables were damaged, exposing live wires.
“There was also damage to a washing machine, causing water to pool on the floor.
“It was deemed that this caused a risk to life.”
The court heard that Dawson became “arrogant” with the tradesman and “demanded that the council supply him with another flat”.
He added that he would “destroy that as well.”
Mr Harding said: “Once Mr Dawson left, the locks were changed.
“It was noticed that there were large holes in dry wall, exposing brickwork.
“Three flats – including number 20 – all showed signs of water damage.
“This seems to have come from burst water pipes in Dawson’s flat.”
The fiscal depute said: “The damage made the flats inhabitable.
“Given the amount of work that needed to be done, the flats were out of action for a significant amount of time.”
He added: “Repairs could not be carried out because of budget restraints at the council.”
The court heard the damage was valued at around £8,000.
Upbringing
Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said his client had suffered difficulties growing up and had battled drug problems.
Sheriff Gillian Wade told Dawson: “This was completely unacceptable.
“The damage you caused affected other people who are waiting to move into council homes.”
Dawson, now living at a homeless hostel in Princes Street, Perth, was placed on supervision for two years and ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work.
He was warned the sentence was an alternative to custody.
A Perth and Kinross Council spokesman said that Dawson was charged for the cost of repairs.
“The property has since been relet to a new tenant,” he said.
The spokesman said that while the incident caused “inconvenience,” it did not adversely impact people on the waiting list.
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