A York pensioner has been jailed for dumping dog poo in his neighbour’s garden, damaging a manhole cover inside their property and stealing car parts from them.
James Johnson, 74, who had a beef with the named couple, went round to their home in Askham Lane on 25 May last year when he damaged a metal manhole cover, York Magistrates’ Court heard.
He returned five days later when he dumped bags of dog excrement and emptied bags of rubbish onto their garden, causing damage. He then stole car parts, of an unknown value, from their property.
The elderly offender, lately of Boroughbridge Road, was charged with two counts of damaging property and one count of theft but denied the offences.
He was found guilty of the foul offences following a trial in June but failed to turn up in court today to face sentence.
District judge Adrian Lower decided to proceed straight to sentence in Johnson’s absence.
Askham Lane, York
Johnson was jailed for 16 weeks for the “lead” offence of damaging the manhole cover.
The judge gave him two concurrent sentences of eight weeks for stealing the car parts and “throwing bags of dog excrement” into the couple’s garden.
Johnson will serve half of the total 16-week jail sentence behind bars before being released on prison licence.
He was also ordered to pay £600 prosecution costs and £400 compensation to the victims.
Mr Lower said that Johnson would also have to answer for failing to turn up in court.