A SKIPTON man took out his frustration on his neighbouring private ambulance service business by pouring paint over one of its vehicles, heard magistrates.

Stuart Beattie, 52, a former soldier with a ‘distinguished career’ had repeatedly complained to both the police and environmental services about what he perceived as noise and disturbance coming from the premises of EMS Medical, an independent ambulance service that works with the NHS, the Skipton court heard on Friday.

On July 12, following a night out drinking, he picked up a can of emulsion paint and emptied it over one of the ambulances parked close to his home in Sawley Street, said prosecutor, Katy Varlow.

She said a company director had explained that the paint had been washed off, but that it had damaged a high visibility strip, making the vehicle useless in an emergency situation until it was repainted, at a cost of £220.

Beattie, 52, who admitted criminal damage, had let his frustration get the better of him, and had ‘simply lost control’ the court heard.

After complaining to the council’s environmental services department he was told to ‘close his windows’ said John Mewies in mitigation, and had since decided the only option was to be re-housed.

Mr Mewies claimed there was a ‘toxic relationship’ between the company and those who lived in the area because of the close proximity of the commercial premises and residential streets.

He said Beattie suffered from tinnitus - ringing or buzzing in the ears - which was made worse by the noise coming from the premises, which are directly opposite his home, some ten to 15 metres away.

He had been in touch with the police and with the environmental health services at Craven District Council, which had told him the ‘problem would go away if he shut his windows’.

Mr Mewies added seeing as the problem had occurred in the summer, the response from the authorities had been ‘less than helpful’.

His client had gone out, had consumed some alcohol and on his return home, had grabbed a tin of emulsion paint which he had thrown over one of the ambulances. There was no one else about, and he took himself off to bed.

“When he woke up the next morning, he saw the empty paint pot and realised with horror what he had done. He made a full and frank admission to police and as the problem persists, he has asked to be re-housed,” said Mr Mewies.

Mr Mewies added that his client, who had had a ‘distinguished army career’ had felt totally frustrated by the situation and on this occasion, had simply lost control.

Magistrates told Beattie that they understood his frustration, but that the company had a business to run and that the council must have given them permission to operate from the site, but they added they were sorry he felt he would have to move to solve the problem.

Beattie, was given a 12 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay compensation of £220 to EMS Medical, costs of £85 and a surcharge of £20.