Drink and drugs led to outburst

JOSH Earwaker had consumed a cocktail of drink and drugs on the night he "lost the plot" and tried to smash up his mother's home, breaking a window and chewing broken glass.

Police wore protective clothing and used shields when the 20-year-old barricaded himself into the kitchen at the property in Little Downham - which has since been the subject of a drugs closure order which strictly prohibits visitors to the house.

The incident was triggered by Earwaker hearing the sound of smashing glass on the television. In his confused state he believed someone was trying to break into the property, prosecutor Mara Maciejowski told Ely magistrates on Thursday.

His mother, Chandra Earwaker, called the police in the early hours of October 27. Earwaker was banging around the kitchen, he refused to let his mother into the room and threatened to smash a glass chopping board on his head.

When police arrived, Earwaker was saying strange things, he was aggressive and violent and made numerous threats to "do" someone. The incident lasted for more than an hour and a half.

He threatened to "do someone for life," set fire to some aftershave, broke a window and threw a knife out of it, repeatedly boiled a kettle and chewed broken glass.

Earwaker, of Main Street, Little Downham, had earlier admitted charges of affray and criminal damage.

Solicitor Jacqui Baldwin said he had little recollection of the incident, he had been drinking and smoking cannabis and had a disjointed perception of what was happening in the chaotic house. He has since stopped taking cannabis, and had a drugs counsellor, she said.

Earwaker also admitted two shoplifting offences, and asked for another to be taken into consideration. He also admitted to a string of motoring offences, including three charges of using a vehicle without insurance or a licence.

He was given a 24-month supervision order, told to pay £59.98 compensation, banned from driving for a year and must pay £55 costs.