Driver smashed up parking meter with axe in craze after racking up fines

A motorist took an axe to a parking meter after wardens placed a number of tickets on his car.

Hospital gardener Myles Bancroft lost the plot and attacked the meter near his home after racking up fines, reports the Daily Record. A passer-by filmed Bancroft, 38, as he left his home swinging the axe before destroying the local authority meter.

Fiscal depute Larissa Milligan told Dundee Sheriff Court: "This is a council-owned car park. At around 9am the accused came out of a close in Perth Road carrying an axe.

READ MORE - Boy, 5, given less than one year to live enjoys dream trip on Caledonian Sleeper

READ MORE - Scottish pupils' miracle escape after car smashes into primary school railings

"It was a single head axe with a long wooden handle. He was swinging it at his side and was then observed to continually strike a parking meter with the axe, causing damage to it.

"He was observed by a passer-by who started recording the incident on their telephone. The police were contacted and obtained the recording and identified the accused."

Bancroft, Perth Road, Dundee, admitted wilfully or recklessly destroying or damaging property by striking a parking meter with an axe. He also admitted having an offensive weapon in Mill Wynd Car park on 11 September 2023.

Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox

Sheriff Tim Niven-Smith said: "Am I to assume he is someone who has repeatedly parked in the car park and has had parking tickets?"

Solicitor John Boyle, defending, said: "His address backs onto it and he uses the car park. He has an alcohol addiction and has been signed off work for some time.

"He is an NHS Trust gardener. He had been abstinent for a significant period but the week before this he relapsed and was under the influence of alcohol.

Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.

"He had received a number of parking tickets that week because he had been drinking in the house and had not tended to the parking meter."

Mr Boyle said Bancroft, who was not present in court, had not drunk since the incident and was seeking help for his addiction. He said his client had a number of debts to pay.

Sheriff Niven-Smith deferred sentence for reports.