Vandal ‘stranded’ at station caused #3.7k of damage

A DRUNK vandal who caused #3,700-worth of damage by throwing stones in a Metro station because he was ‘stranded’ has avoided jail.

- By SARA NICHOL

Dennis Battista became agitated at Meadow Well Metro Station after he’d called a Nexus help point and complained he couldn’t get home.

The police and ambulance service were called by Nexus but it was deemed that Battista did not need either, a court heard.

As a result, the 27-year-old spent a number of hours at the station before picking up ‘large’ stones and hurling them around inside.

Battista, of no fixed abode, managed to shatter the screen of a ticket machine and also hit lighting fixtures, causing a total of #3,700-worth of damage.

He previously appeared at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court to plead guilty to criminal damage, and a separate offence of shop theft.