South Yorkshire drug user smashed up his mum's house after four days without sleep

Police were called to Mark Bowman's address on Emmerson Avenue, Stainforth, Doncaster, at 8.40am, on February 14, where they found a large window had been broken, ornaments smashed and a coffee table damaged, said prosecutor Brian Outhwaite.

Bowman was found crying nearby and told officers he hadn't slept for four days and apologised to them.

Small amounts of cannabis and amphetamine, and a Class C drug called etizolam, which is used to treat insomnia, were found on him.

Mr Outhwaite said Bowman’s mother said: "This is the final straw. His drug addiction needs to be controlled before he can come back."

On Friday, the court heard he had previous convictions for drug offences and received a nine-month suspended prison sentence for cocaine dealing, which was due to expire four weeks after the offence.

Michael Cane-Soothill, mitigating, said it would be unjust to activate the suspended sentence because no further offences had been committed since.

He said Bowman had apologised to his mum and although she made him live elsewhere for a while, he has moved back to the family home.

"He has paid her £300," Mr Cane-Soothill said. "He has reduced his drug use and hasn't used ketamine or cocaine since June.

"He made fairly good progress on the suspended sentence order."

Bowman, aged 23, pleaded guilty to criminal damage and possession of the drugs.

The judge, Recorder David Gordon, said: "Clearly you have some problems in your life. I am glad you have patched it up with your mother. I appreciate you were high on drugs at the time.

"You've made some mistakes in your life but what you do with the rest of it is up to you."

He fined Bowman £150 for breaching the suspended sentence, which he will pay at £5 per week from his benefits.

He also imposed a 12-month community order, with 20 rehabilitation days.

Read the latest cases from Sheffield Crown Court here.

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