Dad smashed his son’s new BMW with bricks causing £3k in damage

Alan Miller, of Friar Park Road, Wednesbury, had recently split from his wife, with his son continuing to live with her at the home they had once shared.

On the evening of June 26, Miller visited his former home where he had a row with his son. and spoke with his son, before their conversation escalated into a row. After having the door to the house attempting to enter the house, only to have the door shut in his face, Miller grabbed a number of house bricks and smashed the windows of his son’s £2,000 black BMW 1 series his son had purchased just months before.

He also badly damaged the front of the car, causing £3,000 worth of damage in total.

Miller, aged 39, pleaded guilty at Walsall Magistrates to causing criminal damage and was ordered to pay £3,000 compensation to his 20-year-old son.

Ms Rachel Smith, prosecuting, said: “On the driveway of the house was a black BMW and the conversation between the defendant and his son took place on the doorstep. “He tried to force his way into the property but had the door shut in his face.

“He shouted at the mother and son before walking away, only to return with a number of house bricks. He then smashed all of the windows on the car and damaged the bonnet, causing substantial damage.”

“The car had been brought for £2,000 two months earlier but the cost of replacing the windows and repairing the damage has been estimated at £3,000.”

Defending, Ms Rachel Mason, said that Miller had suffered from depression at the time and continues to suffer today.

She said: “Up until 2015 he was in full time employment as a windscreen fitter and is currently going through an employment tribunal, he feels as though he was bullied out of his job. That sent him into a downward spiral, at which point he found out that his wife was in another relationship, which led to the break up of theirs.”

“He has suffered with severe depression for a while now.”

As well as being told to pay £3,000 to his son, Miller was also given a 28-day jail sentence suspended for 12 months and told to carry out a 10-day rehabilitation requirement.

He was also told to pay costs of £130 and a victims surcharge of £115.

Miller told the court that he has already agreed with his son that he would pay for the damage.

Judge David Webster said: “It is fortunate for you that you aren’t charged with more, having tried to enter the house.

“You have left your son with substantial damage to his car and at his age this is going to affect his insurance premiums going forward.”