Homeless man had gone to caravan near church during bad weather and caused '£1,000' worth of damage
A homeless man who caused '£1,000' worth of damage said he had entered a caravan near Living Rivers Church in Ballymena because of bad weather.
David Campbell (55), of no fixed abode, admitted criminal damage which happened on January 11 this year.
He appeared at Antrim Magistrates Court, sitting in Ballymena on Tuesday, via video link from prison.
The court was told a male was seen entering and exiting the caravan on "numerous occasions" over the previous few days. A rear window had been smashed.
When police checked the caravan the defendant was discovered "hiding" under blankets.
The defendant told police he was of no fixed abode and he "needed somewhere to stay due to the weather".
A defence barrister said the defendant had an alcohol addiction, was homeless, and was "no stranger to the courts".
He said there were "statutory agencies" who could have provided assistance but because of his "nomadic" lifestyle the defendant had gone to the caravan due to "adverse" weather to "seek heat".
District Judge Nigel Broderick said he case "presents quite a depressing picture" as the defendant is in a "revolving door" of homelessness, offending and prison.
The defendant, who had 99 previous convictions, has now given a four months prison sentence for the criminal damage.