A TOTTON man armed with a machete smashed up vehicles and threw concrete at a house after his partner broke up with him, a court heard.

Robert Mann went to the home of his ex-girlfriend after the pair split after two years.

“Fixated” with the idea she was seeing someone else, he went armed with a machete with the intention of finding her new partner.

Southampton Crown Court was told how the 29-year-old of Corriander Drive, Totton, turned up and started shouting and throwing blocks of concrete at the property.

He then turned on a white Mazda, hitting it several times with the machete before targeting a blue Ford Focus.

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Prosecutor Aleks Lloyd said Mann was “plainly quite angry” and thinking the vehicle belonged to his ex’s new partner, smashed the rear windscreen and one of the door windows.

Police were called with neighbours who were watching the drama unfold see him causing sparks by smashing the machete on the ground.

Officers arrived and later found the machete in a nearby hedge.

Mann later pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article in a public place and three charges of criminal damage.

In a statement read out in court, one of the victims said the incident had left her feeling “scared and concerned” adding that she is worried about her mum and stepdad who live in Bramtoco Way, where the incident happened.

Daily Echo: Southampton Crown Court. Southampton Crown Court.

Meanwhile, another said: “It is not something you think you are going to have happen.

“I was worried a neighbour might come out and he might do something, and they may get hurt.”

Mitigating, Damian Hayes said though that this was his client's “first proper relationship”.

He added that Mann hadn’t been taking his prescribed medication and he has been diagnosed with ADHD and personality disorder.

The defendant, who works for his family’s landscaping business, was said to have later expressed shame and remorse when interviewed after the incident on August 14.

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But Recorder Benjamin Newton noted that Mann had previously been jailed for 13 months after striking a police officer, causing them serious harm.

He said: “You need help, not punishment. Your focus now needs to be getting your life back together.

“I wish you the very best of luck in the future.”

Mann was handed an 18-month sentence suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to carry out an alcohol abstinence and monitoring requirement and pay compensation of £500 to one of his victims for the damage to her vehicle.

Mr Newton also ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the machete.

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