Cyclist slashed 1,700 tyres 'of rude motorists'
By Richard Savill
(Filed: 25/03/2004)
A cyclist who resented the "inconsiderate manner" of motorists took revenge by puncturing more than 1,700 car tyres in a 10-day period, a court was told.
Ashley Carpenter, 37, who has never passed a driving test, told police his campaign of vandalism began after a car nearly knocked him off his bike and another drove through a puddle and drenched him.
The court heard that he was the most prolific criminal of his kind and he caused an estimated £250,000 worth of damage.
Armed with a sharpened screwdriver, Carpenter left his home on his bike during the hours of darkness and randomly slashed the tyres of nearly 600 cars parked in the Dorset towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch.
Yesterday at Bournemouth magistrates' court, Carpenter, who is unemployed, admitted eight charges of criminal damage and asked for 540 similar offences to be taken into consideration. Sentencing was adjourned and he was warned that he faced a jail term.
The court heard that at least 1,728 tyres were damaged. Some of Carpenter's victims drove many miles unaware that their tyres were slowly deflating.
On more than one occasion he damaged several cars belonging to the same family and returned sometimes to puncture tyres that he had already holed.
Police said it was a "miracle" that no one was hurt or injured during the campaign between Dec 12 and 22 last year.
Julia Woodward, prosecuting, said: "On some cars all four tyres were damaged.
"He struck on roads, in private car parks, in public car parks and in people's driveways. This scale of offending was unprecedented and caused immense distress because the tyres deflated very slowly.
"One victim drove from Bournemouth to Portsmouth for a meeting and it was only when he left that he discovered all his tyres were flat.
"After studying CCTV footage, police released pictures to the press and Carpenter was quickly arrested. As he was arrested, he was seen trying to dispose of a small, sharpened screwdriver.
"Forensic tests later linked the screwdriver to the tyres that were punctured and fragments of tyre rubber were found in his pocket."
The court heard that in interviews with police, Carpenter complained that motorists drove too quickly and dangerously. He said he wanted to send out a message to drivers.
Det Sgt Mark Monaghan, who led the investigation, said: "We have contacted other forces and the National Crime Faculty and there has never been this type of offending on this scale and size.
"It was a miracle that nobody was hurt or killed if you consider the number of people driving cars with deflated tyres.
"It was a difficult investigation. We viewed over 500 hours of CCTV footage and launched extra patrols in the areas where the crimes were happening."
© Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2004. Terms & Conditions of reading.
Commercial information.
By Richard Savill
(Filed: 25/03/2004)
A cyclist who resented the "inconsiderate manner" of motorists took revenge by puncturing more than 1,700 car tyres in a 10-day period, a court was told.
Ashley Carpenter, 37, who has never passed a driving test, told police his campaign of vandalism began after a car nearly knocked him off his bike and another drove through a puddle and drenched him.
The court heard that he was the most prolific criminal of his kind and he caused an estimated £250,000 worth of damage.
Armed with a sharpened screwdriver, Carpenter left his home on his bike during the hours of darkness and randomly slashed the tyres of nearly 600 cars parked in the Dorset towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch.
Yesterday at Bournemouth magistrates' court, Carpenter, who is unemployed, admitted eight charges of criminal damage and asked for 540 similar offences to be taken into consideration. Sentencing was adjourned and he was warned that he faced a jail term.
The court heard that at least 1,728 tyres were damaged. Some of Carpenter's victims drove many miles unaware that their tyres were slowly deflating.
On more than one occasion he damaged several cars belonging to the same family and returned sometimes to puncture tyres that he had already holed.
Police said it was a "miracle" that no one was hurt or injured during the campaign between Dec 12 and 22 last year.
Julia Woodward, prosecuting, said: "On some cars all four tyres were damaged.
"He struck on roads, in private car parks, in public car parks and in people's driveways. This scale of offending was unprecedented and caused immense distress because the tyres deflated very slowly.
"One victim drove from Bournemouth to Portsmouth for a meeting and it was only when he left that he discovered all his tyres were flat.
"After studying CCTV footage, police released pictures to the press and Carpenter was quickly arrested. As he was arrested, he was seen trying to dispose of a small, sharpened screwdriver.
"Forensic tests later linked the screwdriver to the tyres that were punctured and fragments of tyre rubber were found in his pocket."
The court heard that in interviews with police, Carpenter complained that motorists drove too quickly and dangerously. He said he wanted to send out a message to drivers.
Det Sgt Mark Monaghan, who led the investigation, said: "We have contacted other forces and the National Crime Faculty and there has never been this type of offending on this scale and size.
"It was a miracle that nobody was hurt or killed if you consider the number of people driving cars with deflated tyres.
"It was a difficult investigation. We viewed over 500 hours of CCTV footage and launched extra patrols in the areas where the crimes were happening."
© Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2004. Terms & Conditions of reading.
Commercial information.
