Last updated 09:17, Friday, 28 November 2008

A BRANTHWAITE man has been found not guilty of assaulting a Maryport councillor and his teenage son in their home.

But Trevor Brough, 47, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to the front door and hallway wall at the Selina Terrace home of Allerdale Borough councillors Martin and Janice Wood and their son Jonathan.

A trial at Workington Magistrates’ Court yesterday heard that self-employed Brough had gone to the home with his wife Jacqui after learning their only daughter Carrie Ann, 16, who had been away from home and out of contact for two or three days, was staying with her boyfriend Jonathan Wood, 19.

The couple arrived at about 11.30pm and Mrs Brough knocked on the door to collect her daughter,with Mr Brough staying by the car.
Jonathan Wood had answered the door, the court heard, and Carrie Ann had left promptly.

But once she was in the car there was an altercation between the three men.

Pamela Fee, prosecuting, said Brough had gone to the front door and banged and kicked it.

Jonathan Wood said he then opened the door because he feared it would cave in if he didn’t.

It was alleged Brough then assaulted Jonathan Wood by shoving him, holding him and punching at him, as well as swearing.

When Martin Wood intervened, the prosecution alleged, he was punched by Brough, breaking his glasses.

Martin Wood and his wife, who was at home at the time, also gave evidence, but their testimonies said Brough had pushed Jonathan against the wall, not the floor, and it was unclear whether the defendant had been holding him or throwing punches.

Brough, represented by Mike Fanning, said he had gone to speak to Jonathan Wood after the teenager flicked a V-sign towards him and Mrs Brough and mouthed an obscenity.

When Jonathan Wood opened the door, Brough said, he seemed aggressive so the defendant, a former bouncer, outstretched his hand to keep the teenager at arms length.

Jonathan Wood had pushed towards him, Brough said, so he pushed the youngster back into the house to avoid being shoved down the doorsteps.

Then, Brough said, Martin Wood entered the hallway, removed his glasses and, with his son, pushed the defendant outside.

As Brough left, he said, Jonathan Wood spat at him, causing him to lose his temper and kick the door, causing damage.

Delivering the verdict on the assault charges chairman of the bench Austin Coote said the magistrates accepted Brough had behaved non-aggressively.

He said: “We do have reasonable doubt that either Jonathan or Martin Wood was assaulted by Mr Brough and we therefore find him not guilty.”

In respect of the criminal damage Brough was fined £500 with a ten per cent reduction because of his guilty plea and the provocation, making the penalty £450.

Compensation of £295 for the damaged door and £100 for the hallway wall damage, costs of £100 and a victim surcharge of £15 were added to the fine, leaving Brough to pay a total of £960.

An allegation that Brough assaulted his daughter was dropped when the prosecution offered no evidence.