Ricky Clemis in King’s Lynn court after smashing digger’s windows at East Rudham field

A walker used rocks to smash a camera and a digger’s windows after returning from a stroll – arguing that it was in retaliation to his own vehicle being damaged.

Ricky Clemis, 37, committed the criminal damage on September 2 last year after going for a walk with his partner at East Rudham.

The pair had parked in a field – which turned out to be private land – before their stroll, and upon returning they found that the digger had been used to pin their car in place.

Clemis proceeded to throw rocks at the digger, causing its windows to smash. He then turned to a nearby CCTV camera, also breaking it by throwing rocks.

He was arrested after police were alerted to the incident, and he appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where he pleaded guilty to criminal damage to property.

Mitigating, duty solicitor Charlotte Winchester said Clemis and his partner had decided to go for a walk on the night in question because there was a red moon.

She said they did not see any signs telling them they could not park on the field – and added that when they returned to their vehicle, it had been damaged as well.

This was said to have involved its tyres being punctured and windows being broken.

Ms Winchester said: “His partner contacted the police. They went back to the vehicle, and it was out of frustration that Mr Clemis threw the rocks.

“It was really quite an odd situation. Impulse got the better of him, and he caused that damage.”

The owner of the digger and CCTV camera had originally asked for £650 in compensation, but increased that request to £1,701.60 prior to Clemis’ court appearance.

However, Ms Winchester argued that no evidence had been provided to justify this, and magistrates – chaired by Ginny Hutton – therefore ordered the defendant to pay the original £650.

Clemis, of Winston Close in Gedney Drove End, Lincolnshire, was also handed a six-month conditional discharge, and will pay a £26 victim surcharge and £145 in legal costs.