An alcohol-fuelled call centre worker who “exploded” and caused £15,000 of office damage before assaulting two colleagues and a pair of police officers has avoided a jail sentence.
Owain Lloyd Houston, of Pendwyallt Road, Cardiff, lost his temper after he was asked to take a call for a colleague at Firstsource Solutions in Oakleigh House, on the corner of Park Place and Boulevard de Nantes.
The 35-year-old shouted “F*** Disney” several times before hurling computers and white boards around.
Paul Hewitt, prosecuting, told Cardiff Crown Court his behaviour on April 13 was “somewhat out of character”.
'Rage'
“He was at work at eight o’clock when he stood up at his work station.
“He has thrown his head set down shouted out ‘F*** Disney’ then entered some sort of rage whereby he has walked through the premises smashing up equipment.
“He has taken computer monitors and thrown them causing damage and he has taken whiteboards and thrown those.”
Staff backed away from Houston, who last month pleaded guilty to ABH, two counts of assault by beating, one count of assaulting a constable in the execution of their duty, and one count of criminal damage.
Smashing equipment
“He continued shouting out ‘F*** Disney,’” Mr Hewitt said.
“One colleague tried to calm him down but he continued to walk through the premises smashing up equipment, damaging a wall at one point.”
When confronted by a security guard the co-worker stepped between them and Houston pushed her in the chest.
He also pushed a manager though neither of his colleagues were injured.
Standoff
When he got outside he found police there who were dealing with a rooftop standoff.
A man had spent several hours on top of an NCP car park in nearby Dumfries Place before he was coaxed down.
Houston kicked a police van and was spoken to by an officer.
The court heard he swore at the officer before apologising and saying: “I’m having a bad day, I’ve just been sacked.”
The officer, Pc Gareth Hillier, agreed to let the matter go provided there was no damage to the vehicle.
Officer struck
“A female officer then saw the defendant strike the officer to the face,” Mr Hewitt said.
“She described a windmill-type action of punches made to the officer’s head.”
Read more: Man admits assaulting colleagues and police officers in Cardiff after 'exploding' at work
When she stepped in to help she was struck to the throat.
Mr Hewitt added: “Pc Hillier was knocked to the floor and became unconscious. He was treated for a gash to the head and had three stitches put in it.”
'Little effect'
CS spray was used to stop Houston but it “had little effect” although the police “suffered” because of it.
“He got free of the officers and their attempts to stop him and ran off,” Mr Hewitt said.
“He was later apprehended by other officers who by that time were very cautious.”
In interview he said he had started his shift at 2pm. During a lunch break he went on a pub crawl and drank two pints, a double whisky, another half pint, another whisky, and a half of lager.
He told police he “just exploded”.
'Out of his mind'
“When he got outside he describes himself as being out of his mind,” Mr Hewitt said.
Ruth Smith, defending, said: “It is accepted oh his behalf that the totality of the incident passes the custody threshold.”
She argued a suspended sentence could be imposed because of Houston’s guilty pleas and his having already spent 12 weeks in custody.
On release he would be able to search for work to pay compensation.
Problem
“Unfortunately his conviction is going to cause him some problems,” Ms Smith said.
“I’ve asked if he has savings and he does not.”
Passing sentence Recorder Timothy Brennan QC said: “I would unhesitatingly pass a sentence of imprisonment immediately had you not already been in custody for 12 weeks.
“Even then I would not pass a sentence as short as that.”
Sentence
But he handed down suspended sentences of 12 months for the ABH on Gareth Hillier, of four months for the assault on his colleague Venice Hacker, three months for the two common assaults on his colleagues, and two months for the criminal damage.
“They will all be suspended for a period of 12 months,” Judge Brennan said.
He also ordered Houston perform 160 hours of unpaid work and pay £700 compensation for the attack on Pc Hillier and £500 for the assault of his colleague.
see-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/worker-smashed-up-office-before-11395803
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