Mum out shopping with children keys car 'parked too close' causing £1,000 damage

15 October 2023 , 20:53

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Sarah Webb was caught on CCTV keying a stranger's car (Image: Kent Messenger Group / SWNS)

A fuming mum caused nearly £1,000 of damage after keying a car she thought had parked too close to hers while she was shopping with her children.

Sarah Webb, 45, had been at Prospect Place in Dartford, Kent, when she returned to find Trevor Breed's Dacia Logan car next to her own. After placing her shopping in the boot of her car, the mum-of-four took her keys out of her handbag and made scratches along his vehicle before driving off.

Medway Magistrates' Court heard Webb’s actions meant Mr Breed was left with a nearly £1,000 repair bill in the incident in April 2022. She was identified from CCTV and initially denied the allegation but opted to plead guilty the day prior to her trial.

Prosecutor Emily Wyles told magistrates Mr Breed's Dacia Logan was the first car he had ever bought. She said: "She returned to her vehicle and put her shopping inside the car, but takes her keys out of her handbag and then scratches his vehicle and then puts her children in the car and drove off. It was the first time Mr Breed had ever purchased a new car in his life and he just parked his car, had done nothing wrong."

Magistrates were told Webb had only denied the allegation because she did not want to accept she had done it, and still didn't know why she had. She was sentenced to an 18-month conditional discharge, she must also repay Mr Breed £975 compensation as well as £300 court costs and a victim surcharge of £26.

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