Criminal damage is usually defined as destroying or damaging, without lawful excuse, property that belongs to someone else.

Committing criminal damage is punishable by fines or, in certain circumstances, even jail time.

Unfortunately, October saw five people end up in front of Cornwall magistrates charged with criminal damage.

Here's our round up of those five people.

  • Lee Adams

Lee Adams, 33, of Ash Park Terrace in Liskeard was charged with criminally damaging a bin that belonged to Great Western Railway to the value of £140.

The offence took place at Looe Railway Station in Cornwall on June 6 2021 and Adams pleaded guilty at the first opportunity when he appeared at Bodmin Magistrates' Court in October.

Adams was discharged conditionally for 12 months and made to pay compensation of £140 as well as a surcharge to fund victim services of £22.

  • Samuel Harrison

Samuel Harrison, 39, of Park En Venton, Mullion, Helston, appeared in court charged with damaging a black Audi A3 belonging to Michael Graham to an unknown value.

The offence took place in Helston on October 27 and Harrison pleaded guilty at the first opportunity when he appeared at Truro Magistrates' Court at the end of October.

Harrison was discharged conditionally for 12 months and made to pay compensation of £500, costs of £85 to the Crown Prosecution Service and a surcharge to fund victim services of £22.

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  • Kyle Pierce

Kyle Pierce, 35, of Carvossa Estate, Crowlas, in Penzance, was charged with criminally damaging a car windscreen belonging to Hilda Palmer to the value of £95.

Pierce appeared at Truro Magistrates' Court in October and pleaded guilty to the offence which took place in Goldstithney in January 2021.

Pierce was discharged conditionally for 12 months and made to pay costs of £85 to the Crown Prosecution Service and a surcharge to fund victim services of £22.

  • Owen Hughes

Owen Hughes, 28, of Belling Walk in Bodmin, Cornwall was charged with criminally damaging a car wash belonging to BP Oil on March 12 2021.

Hughes pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared in front of magistrates at Truro Magistrates' Court in October.

He was fined £100 and made to pay a surcharge to fund victim services of £34.

  • Darren Hughes

Darren Hughes, 52, of St Petrocs in Penzance was charged with criminally damaging a red Mazda belonging to Simon Watkins to the value of £350 as well as damaging a red Hyundai belonging to Hannah Stafford to the value of £20 and damaging a black Audi belonging to Benjamin Eddy to the value of £200.

The offence took place on August 21 and Hughes pleaded guilty to the offence when appearing at Bodmin Magistrates' Court in October.

Hughes was committed to prison for six weeks suspended for 18 months and made to pay compensation of £350, £20 and £200 to the victims.