A mum returned from a shopping trip with her daughter to discover that her ex-boyfriend had trashed her home, causing thousands of pounds of damage. Steven Reaside broke into his former partner’s house and destroyed her television and items including jewellery and perfume, which she had bought as Christmas presents for relatives, when he saw “red mist” a week after their breakup.
She now says she is “at her lowest point in life” and a “bag of nerves” as a result of his “desire for revenge”. A judge has told the armed forces veteran that his actions were “mean and gratuitous” as he was locked up yesterday.
Liverpool Crown Court heard on Wednesday that Deborah Jones had been out shopping with her daughter on October 17 last year before returning to her home on Grasmere Street in Anfield at around 4.15pm. Upon arrival, she found the front door wide open and discovered that the screen of her television had been smashed.
Paul Blasbery, prosecuting, described how she also “noticed a large number of Christmas presents had been broken and taken”. These included a diamond necklace, Pandora earrings and Jo Malone perfume, with £4,000 in damage and losses being caused overall.
When Ms Jones checked her Ring doorbell camera, she saw footage of Raeside forcing entry to the property around half an hour earlier. Their five-year relationship was said to have come to an end only a week prior to the incident.
Under interview following his arrest, the 51-year-old said he had broken into the address as he “had red mist” and claimed that he had been “robbed earlier that day by his ex-partner’s daughter and her partner”. Raeside, of County Road in Walton, recalled that he had thrown the remote at the TV before “trashing the spare bedroom” and “cutting up a coat” belonging to his step-daughter’s boyfriend.
In a statement which was read out to the court on her behalf, Ms Jones said that Raeside had been her “best friend” although she “now feels totally lost and doesn’t know what to do”. She added that her “body turned to jelly” when she had seen her estranged ex on one occasion since and detailed how she is now “at her lowest point in life” after “every one of her Christmas presents was destroyed”.
Raeside has two previous convictions for assault occasioning actual bodily harm in 1996 and drink driving in 2006. Paul Becker, defending, told the court: “Clearly, matters had gone sour in the relationship and he accepts that he saw red. He feels guilt and shame for what he has done. Alcohol may have played some role in his mental health and decision making.
“He has been out of trouble for many years. It is a lapse. He was in the army for eight years. He has been a warehouse operator. He has been alcohol free since November last year.
“He tells me that he has post-traumatic stress disorder and suicidal ideations. A military colleague attempted to shoot him and others, and he witnessed him take his own life. He was attacked some 13 years ago by a stranger, which left him requiring three plates and 19 bolts in his arm.
“This is a very different sort of burglary, an unusual burglary linked to a relationship where the defendant has clearly been angry and broke in, caused damaged and caused psychological damage to the victim. He is sorry for that.”
Raeside admitted one count of burglary with intent to cause damage. Appearing suited in the dock, he was jailed for 16 months.
Sentencing, Judge Anil Murray said: “This was mean and gratuitous activity. She is a bag of nerves, and she is not eating or sleeping property. It is clear that your desire for revenge has led to long lasting consequences for her.
“You were drinking too much at the time, and no doubt that played a role. You have got a good work record. You have stopped drinking. You have got health issues. Your disabilities did not stop you from breaking into your partner’s house and causing gratuitous damage.”