Ex-company boss admits vandalism

A retired company director has pleaded guilty to conducting a year-long campaign of vandalism on cars.

The court heard how 62-year-old Ian Phillips became so annoyed with people parking outside his home, he sprayed the vehicles with paint stripper.

Phillips, from Sutton Coldfield, pleaded guilty to 19 counts of criminal damage on cars and 10 similar incidents were asked to be taken into account.

He is due to be sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court next month.

Walsall Magistrates Court heard that the first incident took place in January of last year when Mr Phillips, of Mulroy Road, sprayed paint stripper on seven different cars in one day.

He was eventually caught by police who set up a surveillance operation to catch the person who was causing the damage.

His defence said Mr Phillips was a man of good character who did not realise how strong the paint stripper was and that he just wanted to cause inconvenience.