Man told he's 'walking a very thin line' after kicking out bus window in Sunderland city centre

Chairman of the magistrates’ bench Gary Cracknell hit out at jobless Brian Redman, 37, of Lichfield Road, Carley Hill, after he confessed to his crime at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.

He told him: “You’ve got one horrendous record. Given the opportunity, this bench would have sent you to prison. You are walking a very thin line.”

Redman was running from youngsters who his defence solicitor claimed may have killed him, when he caused between £500 and £1,000 damage to the Stagecoach vehicle on Saturday, December 21.

His actions came after his pal was knifed, and the bus was in Dundas Street when he hit out and broke the glass, it was said.

He has been ordered to pay £500 compensation to the bus company and given a 12-month conditional discharge.

Prosecutor Paul Anderson told the court: “The window was kicked out of the bus. Police arrive and the defendant was detained.

“There’s a cost for the window estimated to be in the region of £500 and £1,000.

“Mr Redman was interviewed and said he was responsible for what happened. He said that he’d been in the town centre with a friends and there had been youths around.

“He admitted kicking out and the window broke. He didn’t mean to break the window. He said that he’d been drinking but wasn’t comatosed.

“He’d had a drink and was perhaps less careful than he would have been. He has a very lengthy record for a whole range of offences.”

Alaister Naismith, defending, said: “He made full and frank admissions in police interview.

“He was being chased by a group of youths who were intent on causing harm. His friend had been knifed, he was in fear of his life. He didn’t expect to window to pop, it was an instinctive action.”

Redman, who pleaded guilty of causing criminal damage to property valued under £5,000, must pay £85 court costs and a £21 victim surcharge.