An Inverness man flooded his own flat to cover it in thick black mould so it would be uninhabitable and he would get a new home.
When council workmen came to inspect Dawid Fibiger’s property at Diriebught Court in Inverness, they found it “swimming in water”.
It cost thousands of pounds to repair with the flat being virtuallty re-built with new floors, walls and ceilings.
Fibiger, 37, had denied causing the damage maliciously between February and August last year, claiming that it was caused by him having a shower up to twice a day. However he was found guilty after a trial in which he represented himself at Inverness Sheriff Court in December.
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The court was told that he had to be re-housed and now lives in a room in supported accommodation in Baron Taylor’s Street.
Yesterday he almost talked himself into a jail sentence as he initially refused to do unpaid work as an alternative.
He told Sheriff Margaret Neilson that he had hurt his back when he did an earlier spell of community work.
Fibiger asked for a fine, and Sheriff Neilson told him: “You can’t pick your own sentence. It is a community payback order or jail. This is much more serious for the imposition of a fine.
Fibiger was ordered to carry out 100 hours of work and remain under social work supervision for one year.
A background report had previously been called for and the Sheriff was annoyed that Fibiger had again refused to accept responsibility for the damage.
His trial heard that he was unhappy when he was forced to take over the property by housing officers as it was in “poor condition.”
He claimed the damage was caused by the ingress of rainwater and condensation because he had one or two showers or baths daily.
But council maintenance officer Gary Macdonald said in evidence that no leaks, condensation or water ingress could have caused so much damage.
Det. Constable Carla Hoxey, who had visited the registered sex offender on another matter, said that she asked Fibiger how the flat had got in that state.
She said he replied that it had been caused by water by him because he didn’t like the flat and he wanted a move.
He claimed at his trial he was being sarcastic.