A woman was terrorised during a teenager's three-month campaign of harassment.

Darren McVittie trashed Janice Watson's home, burgled it at 4am, threw stones at her car and even attacked her during a terrifying period of harassment.

Carlisle Crown Court heard that the 19-year-old was drunk when he broke into the woman's home on March 8 - the day after he'd appeared in court charged with using violence to enter Miss Watson's home.

McVittie, of Cumwhinton Road, Harraby, Carlisle, admitted seven offences in total, including burglary, and was yesterday locked up.

Jon Close, prosecuting, said McVittie had pursued a "prolonged course of intimidation".

The burglary at Miss Watson's house happened at about 4.15am, while there were people upstairs.

Food, belongings and even medication was left strewn across floors, and a television destroyed as McVittie trashed the rooms.

"These were wanton acts of destruction and vandalism," said Mr Close.

McVittie was caught by police minutes later just 500m from the house.

Mr Close told the court: "A footwear impression had been left on bread discarded around the living room.

"This was the same make and model of the type worn by Mr McVittie at the time of his arrest."

While on police bail for that, McVittie assaulted Miss Watson at her home just after midnight on April 5.

"He grabbed her by her clothing, pushed her to the ground and punched her several times in the face," said Mr Close.

McVittie also threw stones at her car.

In a victim impact statement, Miss Watson described the impact of McVittie's course of conduct as "horrendous".

Mark Shepherd, mitigating, said: "To say this was a trail of destruction over the period of three months perhaps doesn't do it justice."

There had, however, been a "sea change" in McVittie's attitude, and he had had no contact with Miss Watson since April.

Mr Shepherd added: "[The crimes] was utterly disproportionate and should never have happened."

McVittie was sent to a young offenders' institution for two years by Recorder John Corless.

The judge told him he had been responsible for a "catalogue of criminality".

  • A 17-year-old Carlisle youth who also admitted involvement in the burglary was given a 12-month referral order.