INCENSED environmental health officers took away all his sound equipment, a Freshwater man hurled a plant pot through a neighbour's car window, which resulted in him being jailed.

Tomas Daniel Bateman admitted causing criminal damage to a car, belonging to Brian Leach — who he blamed for a noise nuisance complaint against him — last Friday (April 23).

Subsequently, Bateman, of The Square, Freshwater, activated a suspended sentence order hanging over him — made by Island magistrates in January for arson, growing cannabis and common assault against his mother last year.

He was imprisoned for three months.

The 31-year-old got drunk on three bottles of rum, and high on butane gas, after he discovered council officers had entered his property — which adjoins Mr Leach's — and confiscated any electronic equipment capable of making sound, from his TV to a sound system, said Ann Smout, prosecuting, at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court on Monday.

"Bateman was aware the neighbours helped in the noise nuisance investigation. Eileen Leach said she saw Bateman, at the front of the house, throw a ceramic flower pot through the rear window of her husband's car, then lobbed a glass bottle into the couple's front garden," said Mrs Smout.

Bateman told the police he had no recollection of what happened, due to his alcohol and drug intoxication, but did not dispute Mrs Leach's account and was sorry.

In a statement, Mr Leach said he and his wife had been trying to cope with Bateman's behaviour for four years — to the point where it became unbearable, particularly with loud music day and night.

Bateman's parents funded a drugs and alcohol rehabilitation course for him, which persuaded the bench to delay immediate jail last August, to give him a chance to complete the course, which he did.

"After losing his belongings, he went into relapse and, in the space of 24 hours, he drank three bottles of rum," said Oscar Vincent, for Bateman.

Bateman's handwritten note offering to pay for the damage was read to the court in mitigation.

Probation officer, Dawn Young, told the bench of Bateman's "unpleasant, intimidating behaviour" towards her colleagues, numerous times — blaming his outbursts on mental health problems, exacerbated by drink and drugs.

Mrs Young reported Bateman had assaulted his parents when in a temper and was concerned about the potential for Bateman to physically assault his neighbours for reporting the noise nuisance.

Bateman was ordered to pay £60 compensation to Mr Leach, a £40 fine, £85 costs and a £34 victim surcharge.