POLICE called to deal with a drunken man in Ely discovered that he had damaged a neighbour s bicycle. Appearing at Ely courthouse on Thursday, 29-year-old Ashley Boughen, of Longchamp Drive, Ely, denied causing criminal damage, but was convicted after a t

POLICE called to deal with a drunken man in Ely discovered that he had damaged a neighbour's bicycle.

Appearing at Ely courthouse on Thursday, 29-year-old Ashley Boughen, of Longchamp Drive, Ely, denied causing criminal damage, but was convicted after a trial.

Bicycle owner Robin Tucker had alerted police after hearing Boughen shouting and swearing in the early hours of September 7, said prosecutor Olivia Gooding. Boughen referred to the bicycle, and Mr Tucker later discovered both wheels of his Marin pedal cycle were damaged.

Boughen told police he kicked the bicycle because "he had a short fuse," but denied causing any damage, she said.

"I heard dustbins being kicked, my bicycle was next to the dustbins, and I called the police," said Mr Tucker from the witness box. "Both wheels were buckled."

Solicitor Michael Hinchliffe said Boughen denied causing the damage. The magistrates ordered Boughen to pay £149.37 compensation and £200 costs.