VICTIMS of a yob's £10,600 cocaine-fuelled rampage have slammed a court's decision to order him to pay just £300 to his victims - because he is on benefits.
Unemployed Charlie Hanshaw, 19, of Chequers Road in Loughton, admitted attacking cars in Pancroft, in Abridge, last September, because he was experiencing "family issues".
Hanshaw, who lived in Theydon Mount at the time of the attack, smashed windows, scratched paintwork and jumped up and down on the roofs of the vehicles.
Harlow magistrates ordered him to pay just £300 towards the £10,600 cost of the damage caused, with the sum to be shared out equally among his victims - just £60 each.
The court said Hanshaw would not face prison, and was instead given an 18-month suspended sentence, 80 hours unpaid community work and an 18-month alcohol treatment programme.
As a grinning Hanshaw celebrated with his family, one victim said she was left cold by the decision.
Jackie Hooper, the owner of a Peugeot 206 which was so badly damaged that it was written off, broke down as Hanshaw was sentenced.
Speaking exclusively to the Guardian, she said she saw Hanshaw jump up and down on her car roof from her home after being woken by her terrified nine-year-old son, who she said still had nightmares about the incident.
She said: "What am I going to go home and tell my son? He thinks bad people get put away, but look at what happened today, Hanshaw is going to walk away free, while my family are left counting the cost.
"I stood there with my children in our home at 2am while a man destroyed my own and my husband's car for the sheer fun of it - and today he's been given a telling off and a fine, justice was definitely not done."
Speaking of the paltry pay out the Hooper family had been offered, she said: "It wouldn't even cover my excess, it's a total farce, I feel so let down."
Mrs Hooper's views were echoed by Lambourne district councillor Brian Rolfe, who slammed the verdict as "appaling".
He said: "If he couldn't pay the damages back, then why on earth wasn't he given a prison sentence? It's a complete travesty of justice in my view.
"What kind of message does this sentence send? It certainly doesn't give him any incentive to change his behaviour.
Mr Rolfe said he would be investigating the case further with police and added: "This is a complete failing of the judicial system.
"I don't care if he is out of work, there is no excuse for behaviour like this."
Neighbourhood Police Sergeant Tony Walker said he was disappointed by the verdict.
He added: "The verdict does not reflect the cost to the residents and we find that disappointing, but we will always take cases of vandalism very seriously."
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