Drunk electrician tried to cut down speed camera with saw after 'downing whiskey'

Stuart Langley was spotted sawing at the camera in Bournemouth Road, Poole by a police officer who was passing in a marked car shortly before 11pm on Wednesday, March 8.

The camera enforces a 30mph speed limit on the hill down into Ashley Cross.

Langley, of Harvest Close in Tilehurst, Reading, appeared at Poole Magistrates' Court on Friday to admit a single charge of causing criminal damage to the camera.

Prosecuting, Lee Turner said the police officer saw a red Mercedes van parked on the hill next to the camera.

"As he drives past, he sees a male standing by the speed camera holding a large object against the raised arm of the camera," Mr Turner said.

"It looks like he's sawing."

The man was seen putting something into the back of the van as he was approached by the officer.

"He identifies himself as Mr Langley. The officer believes the defendant is drunk," Mr Turner said.

"The officer inspects the camera and can see saw marks on the metal strut of the camera in the same place he saw the sawing motion taking place.

"[The defendant] was clearly trying to cut down the arm of the camera."

Mitigating, Holly Huxtable said: "The saw used, on Mr Langley's own admission, would not have managed to bring something like this camera down.

"This is a rather silly incident."

She said Langley, 30, had downed whiskey before trying to damage the camera.

"At the time of this offence, he told me he had found out his granddad had passed away," Ms Huxtable said.

"He bought a bottle of whiskey and consumed the whole lot.

"There was no real intention to do significant damage.

"He was drunk and it was a stupid act.

"He doesn't quite know what he was hoping to achieve."

No significant damage was caused to the camera, it was heard.

Sentencing Langley to a 12-month conditional discharge, as well as £105 in costs and fines, presiding magistrate Mike Davis said: "What a stupid thing to be doing under the influence of drink."