Kessingland man sentenced for destroying property and affray

David Catling, 51, started breaking property on March 3 last year in Barber Close in Kessingland following an extremely painful earache that left him “at his wits’ end” according to his defence barrister Marc Brown.

The court heard from prosecutor Chris Youell that Catling began smashing up property, trying to start fires, revving a chainsaw and tried to overdose.

This behaviour disturbed his neighbours and they felt forced to call police.

Armed police detained the defendant and took him to the police station where he continued having the break down and smeared his faeces over his cell, the court heard.

Mr Youell told the court Catling “essentially just wanted to kill himself and had completely lost a grip on his existence”.

Catling admitted destroying property, possession of cannabis and amphetamines and affray.

Judge Nicola Talbot-Hadley was pleased to hear from Mr Brown that Catling is now “in a much better place” and gave the defendant an 18-month community order with 25 rehabilitation activity days, 50 hours of unpaid work and 12 sessions of mental health treatment.