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02
Jun
Man admits pulling tiles off roof of Ripon home
A man admitted to pulling tiles off the roof of a Ripon home on Friday (May 30).
Jed Menzies, of Prestwick Close in Otley, pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage to property valued under £5,000 at Harrogate Magistrates Court.
Kay Barnard, prosecuting, told the court police were called to a property on Dudley Walk in Ripon at around 9.30pm on April 2 this year.
A member of the public had raised concerns about a male who was on the roof of the property.
The court heard the male – Menzies – was “pulling tiles off the roof and throwing them onto the ground”.
Ms Barnard said the defendant was still on the roof when police arrived and officers believed he was intoxicated.
They managed to talk Menzies down from the roof and arrest him, but he was taken to a hospital first.
When the roof was checked the next day, it was found that Menzies had removed multiple tiles and caused £350 worth of damage, the court heard.
Ms Barnard read the owner of the property’s victim impact statement to the court.
The woman said she was shaken by a “strange man climbing on the roof and talking down the chimney”.
The complainant felt the incident was an invasion of her “sanctuary” and that she had been “specifically targeted”.
Her statement added:
This experience has left me feeling unsafe in my own home and the trauma has lingered. I now struggle with anxiety and fear, and the emotional toll has been profound.
My peace has been irreparably shattered. I also found out he had a knife on him – who knows what could’ve happened?
Ms Barnard said a knife was discovered in the felt of the roof when it was checked.
'I was in a bad way that day'
Menzies, who was not legally represented in court, told the magistrates he takes medication for anxiety and depression, and has ADHD.
The 30-year-old defendant said he had been out drinking in Ripon on the day of the offence, but claimed his drink had been spiked.
Menzies told the court:
I was hallucinating; I was in a bad way.
The knife wasn’t mine. I was in a bad way that day. I was taken to hospital – I was panicking.
Menzies also said he wishes to write a letter to the victim to tell her she “was not specifically targeted”.
The case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.
Menzies will return to Harrogate Magistrates Court on July 18.
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