A WORKINGTON man in the midst of a mental health crisis used a metal bar to attack a car which brought his girlfriend home late at night.

Nathan Brown, 22, flipped after realising that his partner was sitting in the passenger seat of the car as it arrived home at 4am and his reaction included first attacking the car and then yelling at and threatening to kill the driver.

The man had only just met the woman involved that night and had offered to drive her home, Carlisle Crown Court heard.

Brown, of Mona Road, Salterbeck, Workington, pleaded guilty to three offences arising out of the violent incident: an affray, possessing an offensive weapon in a public place, and causing criminal damage.

Andrew Evans, prosecuting, said the violence erupted on June 19 last year. The defendant’s partner was given a lift by a young man to Frostoms Road in Workington but she fell asleep during the journey.

“He wasn’t sure what number she lived at and tried to wake her up while parked,” said Mr Evans. “The defendant then approached the vehicle from behind, walking past the driver’s door to the passenger door.”

After he tried the passenger door handle, Brown began yelling at the driver, saying: “What are you doing? Get out!” Brown had a metal bar and used it twice to strike the windscreen.

The man tried to drive away, but in his panic, stalled.

Brown then used the bar again, this time smashing the car’s driver side window. Brown was yelling at the driver to “let her out.” He told the man: “Get out of the car before I smash your head in.” The man tried to explain that he had just met the woman and was simply giving her a lift home.

“There’s nothing in it,” he said.

Fearing he would killed, he got out of the car as the defendant shouted: “How do you know her? What have you done to her?” He told the man that he knew where he lived and would kill him.

The incident fizzled out when neighbours arrived, and Brown walked away. In an impact statement, the victim spoke of the distress he suffered and how he was now “always looking over his shoulder in case he [the defendant] is there.”

Kim Whittlestone, for Brown, accepted that it had been an unpleasant incident but she insisted that the defendant could be rehabilitated.

Brown had suffered a trauma as a young man which was still having an impact and he is awaiting an assessment for ADHD. On the day of the incident, Brown had gone missing and there was real concern that he may take his own life.

“He was discovered by the police and taken to the home he shared with his partner,” said the barrister. “He was seen there by members of the crisis team… and prescribed medication.”

Brown was worried about where his partner was but now he fully acknowledges that he overreacted and should not have behaved as he did. “He is now taking support from his GP,” added the barrister.

Recorder Peter Horgan said the victim had just been trying to get the defendant’s partner home yet the defendant had attacked his car and repeatedly threatened him.

But Brown had shown genuine remorse and had been assessed as posing a “low risk” of reoffending or causing serious harm. “I take the view that there is a realistic prospect of rehabilitation,” said the judge.

Recorder Horgan imposed 24 weeks jail, suspended for 18 months. Brown must complete 200 hours of unpaid work and 40 hours of rehabilitation.