Chippenham man commits new offences days after prison release

A Chippenham man has committed new offences days after his release from prison.

James Lait was caught on CCTV smashing windows in Salisbury on 24 and 26 November this year.

The 25-year-old was arrested and put before Swindon Magistrates’ Court on 29 November.

Advertisement

He pleaded guilty to two charges of criminal damage in relation to smashed windows at the Alabare homeless hostel and Colder Street car park.

Gordon Hotson, defending, said his client had been released from prison in early November and things had “gone horribly wrong for him”.

He said the Lait was the victim of an assault, telling the magistrates that they can “see outcome of that on his face”.

Mr Hotson added that his frustration “overflowed into two incidents of damage, both involving glass in doors” and he intends to move back to his mother’s house in Chippenham in due course.

The defendant, of Goldney Avenue, was told to pay £100 in compensation and £85 costs.

Lait has a history of assaults, criminal damage and drug-related offending. Most notably, in 2021, he admitted a serious assault on his 59-year-old fiancée.

In November last year, he was jailed for six months for possession of a piece of tile that had been sharpened to form a pointed article – it followed an incident at Unity House.

Click here to join our WhatsApp Channel and get breaking news sent directly to your mobile – don’t forget to turn on notifications by clicking the bell icon.

Click a topic to read more stories like this:

Keep Up to Date with the Most Important News

By pressing the Subscribe button, you confirm that you have read and are agreeing to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
Advertisement