South Shields thug stamped on woman's TV in hour-long rampage after row over camera

Jamie Seales began arguing with a neighbour of his former partner on Janunary 10 last year in relation to her allegedly filming or pointing a camera towards the garden.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the 30-year-old threatened to cause damage to her property and, in the company of another man, a brick was thrown, which smashed a window and the pair went inside.

As the frightened victim tried to make an escape she was grabbed by Seales by her hood but she managed to get out of the house.

The pair then stamped on a 50-inch television screen and personal items in the property which the victim moved out of the next day.

Chris Knox, prosecuting, said: "(The victim) made her way outside, turning to see both men causing criminal damage to her property.

"Items thrown to the floor, stamping on various items, including a 50-inch television set.

"The police eventually arrived and affected an arrest.

"The defendant is 30 years of age and does have previous matters that stem back to the year 2000."

Peter Schofield, defending, said: "The defendant has now got himself a young fiance who is very keen to insure his, frankly, rehabilitation.

"He has a prior record and she knows that, her family knows that.

"He needs to settle down and work.

"Take the view it is not immediately necessary that he should go to custody.

"He has also managed to keep out of trouble for the last year and put his time to some good use.

"He has accepted responsibility."

The court heard Seales has multiple previous convictions dating back to 2000 as a young offender, including being jailed for six months in 2007 for affray.

Seales, of King George Road, South Shields, pleaded guilty to affray and was sentenced to eight months imprisonment.

Judge Amanda Rippon said: "You and your associate got into her home and chased her through it and you caught her, grabbed hold of her hood.

"She managed to escape from you, which is probably just as well, leaving you and your associate in her home to promptly trash it, lasting in total about an hour."