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12
Apr
Man who damaged Tockwith properties during ‘mental health episode’ sentenced
A man who damaged two properties in Tockwith was sentenced at Harrogate Magistrates Court on Friday (April 11).
Dean Zyke, of Plantation Avenue in Leeds, pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal damage to property under £5,000 and one count of failing to provide a specimen for analysis on February 27.
The case was adjourned while a pre-sentence report was prepared, but it was not read aloud in court.
Mel Ibbotson, prosecuting, told the court Zyke damaged property belonging to two named women who live next to each other in Tockwith.
Zyke was not known to either of the complainants before the incident occurred on February 8.
One of the complainants, woman A, heard her neighbour, woman B, shout: "he has put my window through”.
Ms Ibbotson said the 44-year-old defendant was standing near woman B’s house at around 9.30am with blood on his knuckles.
The court heard Zyke then ran through woman A’s garden, which is when she noticed her fence had also been damaged.
Ms Ibbotson added:
[Woman] raises her voice at the defendant and asks him, 'what are you doing?'.
The defendant then drove off at speed but the complainant managed to take down his registration number.
Woman A said she was “very confused” by the incident and “found it quite bizarre”.
The value of the damage to the window was not known, but the damage to the garden fence was estimated to be around £250.
The court heard the police were called to the scene and saw Zyke’s car on their way. Officers stopped him on the A1(M).
Zyke was arrested and taken into custody, where he immediately told officers he was responsible for the criminal damage.
Ms Ibbotson said police started the breathalyser procedure as Zyke’s eyes looked glazed and he would not cooperate with officers.
When asked to provide the sample, Zyke refused and told officers he “did not want to be touched”.
He was warned but continued to refuse.
Zyke told police at the time he was “mentally unwell”.
'This is a man having a mental health crisis'
Andrew Tinning, defending, told the court the offences came about due to Zyke’s mental health deteriorating.
The court heard he had lost his father just a few days prior to the incident.
Mr Tinning said the defendant had been in the area to help his ex-partner move house. However, he added "it appears to be the case that Mr Zyke was having a mental health episode" at the time.
Zyke has diagnosed borderline personality disorder and bipolar and is awaiting an ADHD assessment.
Mr Tinning said the defendant is “struggling at present”.
He told the court there was no evidence to suggest Zyke had been drinking, such as smelling of alcohol, but officers were “presented with an individual who appeared glazed”.
Mr Tinning added:
Mr Zyke did not play ball as he was not able to co-operate with the process. He could not cope with the procedure.
This is a man having a mental health crisis on that day. He tells me he is struggling to get out of bed. This seems to be a mental health crisis rather than anything more sinister.
The magistrates banned Zyke from driving for 12 months.
Zyke was also sentenced to a 12-month community order, during which he must carry out 25 rehabilitation activity days.
He was also ordered to pay a £140 fine, a £114 surcharge, £85 in prosecution costs and £250 in compensation – totalling £589.
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