Probation for ‘possessed like’ man who broke into ex-partner’s home armed with golf club

Neighbour told police they thought ‘someone was being murdered’ 

A Ramsey man who caused thousands of pounds worth of damage after breaking into his ex-girlfriend’s home has been told his behaviour was ‘appalling’.

Shaun David Bignall, of Mooragh Promenade, entered the woman’s property - armed with a golf club - at 3.30am on 2 October last year. 

The 33-year-old, who was described as being ‘possessed like’, had kicked the garden gate off its hinges, bent and broke the door and smashed all of the windows in a campervan outside.

When he was asked to stop Bignall replied: "I haven’t even started yet."

His actions were witnessed by the woman’s 12-year-old son – a neighbour who also overhead the incident told police they thought ‘someone was being murdered’.

After being arrested Bignall told officers: "What I should have done is kick her teeth in."

Two days before the incident, on 30 September, the woman had ended their relationship – in response Bignall had thrown a gym weight through the campervan window and spat at the TV.

He later admitted burglary with intent to damage and two offences of criminal damage.

During sentencing at Douglas Courthouse magistrates heard the woman had retracted her complaint against Bignall with his advocate adding they hadn’t had a ‘particularly healthy relationship’.

Pleading with magistrates to impose a probation order she told the court Bignall, who has been on remand since October, had suffered a ‘significant decline’ in his mental health.

"His mental health was so poor that whilst he was in prison he did attempt to take his own life,” she added: "If he doesn’t take the bull by the horns and address his mental health nothing will ever change."

Describing Bignall’s previous record of engagement as ‘abysmal’ magistrates imposed a two-year probation order and ordered him to pay prosecution costs of £125.