Friday, May 29, 2009

Bank customer smashed ATM machine after card 'swallowed'

A bank customer was so frustrated when a cash machine swallowed his card that he dialled 999 and threw a brick at the screen.

Mark Britten was arrested for criminal damage to the Lloyds TSB machine in Browtowe Lane, Broxtowe Estate.

He had already tried two cash machines, in Nuthall Road and Bells Lane, when he got to the TSB and was denied cash again.

The 45-year-old, of Stockhill Lane, Basford, said: "I was incensed by it all. I wanted the police to shut the machine down so it would not happen to anyone else. And they said they were too busy... so I smashed it with a brick."

Britten was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court to a 12-month community order. He must pay £200 towards the cost of the prosecution. No order for compensation was made because the judge had insufficient information about the cost of a replacement machine.

Judge Michael Stokes QC told Britten: "These days, we can all get annoyed with bankers and banks. But it is not appropriate to put bricks through their machines. It not only inconveniences them but members of the public."

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