Fakenham man Stephen Povey ordered to pay compensation after smashing door of General Townshend Club

A drunk 33-year-old who refused to leave a social club despite being asked multiple times decided to smash its door.

Stephen Povey admitted causing £688 worth of criminal damage to the General Townshend Club in Fakenham on November 17 last year when he appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

Prosecutor Asif Akram said that Povey was seen by the treasurer of the club “causing some issues” on that evening, while he was witnessed shouting and swearing.

Povey was not a member at the club and there were suggestions he was making enquiries about purchasing cocaine. He was soon asked to leave the premises.

Povey, of Dereham Road in Fakenham, was seen walking towards his car and getting into it, before quickly exiting the vehicle and going back inside the club.

He went in to ask for money back that he had spent on a poker game.

When he was asked to leave again, he had “something metal” in his hand and proceeded to smash the window panes in the door.

In mitigation, duty solicitor Ruth Johnson told magistrates that Povey was offered a conditional caution for his actions by the police, but did not comply with them.

“It’s really really unfortunate that he didn’t complete the caution because he could have avoided coming to court,” Ms Johnson said.

The solicitor explained that Povey did not comply with the caution due to documents sent by police being sent to his mother’s address, where he was not living at the time.

“He wrote a letter of apology to the club which was received,” Ms Johnson added.

Magistrates ordered Povey to pay £688 in compensation to the club.