A teenager who caused around £10,000 of damage when he trashed an Airbnb during a wild Hogmanay party has turned his life around, a court has been told.
Kyle Webster, then 17, punched and headbutted walls at the city centre flat he’d rented with friends.
The owner of the property received word that things had “got out of hand” and discovered a number of large holes in the plasterboard inside and outside the George Street property.
Appearing in the dock at Aberdeen Sheriff Court, Webster, now 20, also admitted to throwing a bottle of vodka at two Mcdonald’s workers.
Webster was previously convicted of being in the supply of cannabis in December last year after being found with £5,500 worth of the drug.
Fiscal depute Lydia Ross told the court that Webster and a group of friends secured the booking for the Airbnb on George Street on December 31 2019.
However, as the gathering grew rowdy a woman was forced to call the owner.
George Street gathering ‘got out of hand’
“She stated that she started to see things getting out of hand,” Ms Ross said.
“The witness said she saw the accused causing damage to the property by punching and then headbutting holes in the wall.
“Plaster had been pulled from the walls and ceiling of the property and was all over the floor.”
Ms Ross said the owner of the property was “advised that there was damage” to his flat.
When he arrived at the property, the owner discovered the extent of the destruction.
“There were four large holes, approximately a metre in length, in the living room,” Ms Ross stated.
“He estimated the cost to repair the damage would be £10,000.”
Police officers arrived, viewed the building’s CCTV and identified Webster, who was subsequently arrested.
Webster also caused trouble at Kittybrewster McDonald’s
Webster also admitted that on November 29 2020 he turned up at McDonald’s in Kittybrewster and abused staff after being told the restaurant was closed due to coronavirus restrictions.
After shouting and swearing at staff while waving an empty vodka bottle about, Webster left but appeared soon afterwards at the drive-thru window, where he was denied service due to his earlier behaviour.
He then began to kick the order terminal, prompting two staff members to exit the restaurant where Webster continued to insult them.
Webster then walked away but launched the empty vodka bottle at them, which smashed off a lamppost close to where they were standing.
‘You have turned things around for yourself’
He pleaded guilty to one charge of causing malicious damage at the Airbnb.
Webster also admitted a second charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner to McDonald’s staff and a third charge of culpably and recklessly throwing an empty vodka bottle at them.
Asked by Sheriff Lesley Johnston whether Webster had been of good behaviour following these incidents, the fiscal depute informed her that he had been.
His solicitor, Ian Woodward-Nutt, elected to make no comment on his client’s behalf concerning the report.
Commenting on a background report into Webster’s subsequent ability to behave, Sheriff Johnston described his progress as “excellent”.
She added: “I can see that you have done extremely well and that you have turned things around for yourself.
“I hope we don’t see you before the court again.”
Sheriff Johnston admonished Webster, of Moir Crescent, Aberdeen, due to him being of good behaviour.
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