Kicked out tenant threatened landlord because he thought he was making out with his girlfriend

An illiterate troublesome tenant wanted to scare his ex-landlord because he thought he was making out with his girlfriend. Shane Dodds, 27, from Bassett Street, Camborne, was evicted from his previous flat in St Austell in the summer of 2021 and told not to come back.

In November last year Dodds pleaded guilty to one charge of criminal damage and another of possession of a bladed article and in April this year he pleaded guilty to burglary.

During a sentencing hearing at Truro Crown Court today (Friday, May 3), it was heard how in the evening of August 6, 2021, he kicked off and returned to the property, armed with a kitchen knife, and violently kicked the front door to the entrance of the block of flats before barging in.

Not only did he steal a parcel which had been left outside a resident's door but he proceeded to go to his landlord's flat and kick the door repeatedly. CCTV footage was later used to identify him and Dodds was arrested by police.

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Piers Norsworthy, defending, told the court that in police interviews at the time of his arrest, Dodds admitted taking the knife with him not with a view to use it but "for a scare" and said he thought the person he wanted to confront was having an affair with his girlfriend.

In a victim impact statement read out in court, his ex-landlord said the incident had left him shocked and he had to fork out more than £3,500 in repairs for the doors Dodds kicked in. He said that Dodds had been a problematic tenant at the block of self-contained flats and had caused great upset to the other tenants with police having to be called out on numerous occasions.

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The court heard that Dodds, who has learning difficulties and cannot read or write, has 14 convictions for 21 offences including 13 for theft dating back to 2017 up to 2019.

His Honour Judge Simon Carr said: "You had been a tenant at this property and were evicted but came back for your own reasons while carrying a knife. You forced your way in and stole a parcel. I accept this offence happened more than two years ago. You have a very poor record."

Dodds was sentenced to 18 months in prison suspended for two years and was ordered to undertake 25 days of rehabilitation activity requirement. Judge Carr added: "With your record, this is your only chance."