A husband who ’lost it’ and smashed up the marital home was this week sentenced to community service.

Craig James Scholes, aged 31, of Cronk y Berry, in Douglas, must carry out 80 hours of unpaid work in the next 12 months after he admitted an offence of damaging property.

He was also ordered to pay £698 in compensation to his estranged wife for a TV and laptop he broke.

We previously reported how, on February 9 at 12.10am, police were called to Scholes’ marital home in New Road, Laxey.

When officers arrived he was said to be sitting outside and said: ’I’m to blame. I smashed the flat up.’

His wife said he had returned home drunk and thrown items around. Scholes started with a glass place mat then pulled over the TV, smashing its screen.

He then picked up a laptop and smashed it against the TV.

He was said to have continued his rage and damaged walls as his wife called the police as she hid in the bedroom.

He was arrested and released on bail with a condition not to contact his wife but breached the bail by texting and phoning her.

accepts

Defending Scholes in court his advocate Paul Glover said: ’Mr Scholes completely accepts the matter. He was calmly sat outside the property and accepted the matter straightaway.

’They have been going through some matrimonial difficulties. He accepts going out for a couple of drinks and he eventually lost his head. He has taken his frustration out on objects.

’He is completely apologetic to his wife and their landlady. He was aware of the condition not to contact her and accepts he shouldn’t have done it.

’It was a relatively innocent request to check if he had any mail.’

Mr Glover went on to say that his client had recently started a new job as a ground labourer.

Deputy High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said while passing sentence: ’I bear in mind that this was committed in a domestic situation.

’Your wife was required to retire to the bedroom through fear because of your behaviour.’

Scholes was also ordered to pay £125 prosecution costs.