Man smashes up wrong car in revenge attack

A Loughborough man has been jailed for 14 months after admitting damaging the wrong person's car in a would-be revenge attack.

 

Daniel Zahir Ali Rushdi destroyed a £13,400 Volkswagen Golf, which he mistakenly believed belonged to a third party towards whom he held a grudge.

He attacked the car, causing considerable damage to the bodywork, and shattering the windows and light clusters.

He also took a knife to the tyres and interior upholstery, effectively writing-off the vehicle.

It was not until after his arrest that Rushdi realised his mistake.

Alan Murphy, prosecuting, told Leicester Crown Court: "Local residents heard the continuous sound of banging at about 12.50am. Two witnesses saw a male repeatedly striking what turned out to be the VW Golf and heard a car alarm sounding.

"One saw the male get into another vehicle and noted the registration number.

"The defendant was seen by the police, about 20 minutes later, at a petrol station in Leicester Road, Loughborough."

When confronted by officers, Rushdi claimed he had simply popped out to buy a bottle of milk, an alibi which his girlfriend later corroborated.

However, due to inconsistencies in his story, he was arrested and fragments of glass from the broken car windows were later found embedded in his clothing.

Judge Michael Pert QC said: "The only explanation you've put forward is that it was a mistake and you thought it was someone else's car.

"So you attacked and destroyed this car belonging to a person who'd done nothing wrong to you."

Rushdi pleaded guilty to causing damage to the car and failing to attend court on a previous occasion