Boozed-up man hacked at his brother’s front door with a machete

Police were called to an argument over money between Ladislav Bogdan and his brother, at his brother’s home on York Road, Rotherham, at 10pm, on May 27, said prosecutor Timothy Savage.

Bogdan was arrested to prevent a breach of the peace and released at 3am the following day, when he returned to the address.

He started banging on the front door, while his brother’s children were inside, and then struck it with a machete.

After the police were called again, Bogdan disposed of the blade in some bushes, and denied causing the damage when he was interviewed by officers.

"He suggested the allegations were a malicious complaint by his brother and thereafter replied “no comment,”” said Mr Savage.

The court heard Bogdan, who has one unrelated previous conviction, also burgled a house and stole a large collection of uninsured tools.

In a statement, his victim said: "My home no longer feels like home. It no longer feels safe. I shouldn't have to feel like this. My property should be safe in my home."

Clarkson Baptiste, mitigating, said: “He is fully accepting of his fate in this case. I have discussed the possible sentence withi him previously.”

Bogdan, 35, of York Street, pleaded guilty to burglary, criminal damage and possession of the blade.

Judge Rachel Harrison told him: “You know you had done wrong because you got rid of the knife before you were arrested.”

She sentenced him to 18 months in prison, adding two weeks for his failure to attend a court hearing.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

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