A CHARD man who lashed out and struck his sister’s car after a family argument spilled out onto the street has been given a conditional discharge by the courts.

Joshua Lee was angry when he lost his cool and damaged the wing mirror of the car, with repairs estimated at £100 to £200, and confessed what he had done when arrested by the police.

The 25-year-old defendant, of Helliers Road, appeared in the dock before District Judge Rose, sitting at Yeovil, after failing to turn up for a previous hearing.

He pleaded guilty to damaging a motor vehicle belonging to Victoria Lee on March 29 at Rushmore in Chard.

Prosecutor Christine Hart said that the victim did not support the prosecution which was brought after Lee made admissions to the police during interview that he had damaged the wing mirror on the car.

She said: “The nearside wing mirror was damaged after the glass was cracked and occurred after there was a dispute about Lee driving.

“There was a verbal argument between him and his sister and when the defendant was interviewed he said he lost his temper and damaged the car.”

He later said he had not meant to cause any damage and would fully pay for the cost of the damage which was estimated at between £100 and £200.

Defending solicitor Ray Peters said that the defendant was told by his sister that she was retracting her statement to the police.

“As a result he formed the opinion that the matter had been withdrawn and there was no need for him to attend which was why he did not turn up at the previous hearing,” he said.

The district judge told Lee it had been a family matter and warned him to be careful in the future.

He imposed a three month conditional discharge.

Lee was also ordered to pay £45 towards costs and a £5 victim surcharge.