Thomas Boxall used crowbar to damage wing mirror of man’s car following family dispute

A villager used a crowbar to damage a man’s wing mirror following a three-month family dispute.

Thomas Boxall, 38, appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where he pleaded guilty to criminal damage to property.

He committed the offence on April 12 when in Emneth, using the crowbar to swipe at a passing vehicle.

This had followed a three-month long disagreement with another man over a relationship between their children.

That man was driving past Boxall on a single-lane track when he stepped out and struck his wing mirror, causing £250 worth of damage.

In mitigation, solicitor Charlotte Winchester told magistrates that Boxall was “extremely remorseful for his behaviour”.

On the disagreement between Boxall and the complainant, she said: “It is fair to say that this has caused huge family turmoil.”

She said the defendant had been at his grandmother’s Emneth home on the day of his offence, and added: “He had the crowbar in his hand, but he did not know that (the defendant) was going to be driving along the road at that time.

“There was no planning - it was all impulse. He knows that it was stupid.

“As I say, he is very, very sorry.”

Boxall, of Magdalen Road in Tilney St Lawrence, had committed no previous offences.

Ms Winchester added: “I want to emphasise that this was very much out of character.

“He said he certainly hasn’t showed his children the right way to behave.”

Magistrates ordered Boxall to pay £250 in compensation for the broken wing mirror, as well as court costs of £105.