Family's windows smashed in 'atrocious' rampage

Layton Wood admitted offences including affray

A man who smashed a family's windows during an "atrocious" and "terrifying" rampage has been jailed for 16 months.

Layton Wood, 43, was armed with a knuckle-duster and bike fork when he targeted several homes in Houghton-le-Spring on 18 July 2023, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Having confronted and been turned away by one man, he smashed the windows of a neighbouring house where a woman and her children were sleeping, the court was told.

Wood, of South View Terrace in Houghton-le-Spring, admitted affray, possession of weapons and criminal damage.

He was intoxicated when he banged loudly on the door of a man he did not know at about 07:00 BST, prosecutor Glenn Gatland said.

The man opened his door and found Wood holding a bloodstained knuckle-duster and green bike fork and calling him a "nonce", the court heard.

The man managed to move Wood away but moments later he heard the windows at the house next door being smashed.

Police arrived a short while later and Wood was arrested, going on to attempt to headbutt an officer as he was being removed from a van at the police station, the court heard.

In a statement read to the court, the woman whose windows were smashed said it was a "terrifying experience" and she and her children no longer felt safe in their home.

Judge Carolyn Scott said Wood's behaviour had been "atrocious" and "terrifying".