Man hired a JCB and wrecked his home hours before being evicted.
A distraught former homeowner who “ripped the guts out” of his former home has been told he is likely to go to jail.
Christopher McGowan hired a JCB digger from a nearby construction firm to destroy his former home near Truro after a million-pound property deal went sour.
Police said the extent of the damage meant the house would probably have to be demolished.
McGowan, 50, denied two counts of criminal damage but was found guilty after a three-day trial at Truro Crown Court.
Judge Christopher Harvey Clark told McGowan: “You ripped the guts out of this property. “It’s very likely that I will impose a significant sentence of imprisonment.” The judge adjourned sentencing until July for pre-sentence reports to be carried out.
Speaking after the hearing, Detective Constable Nick Stidwill said: “Knowing that eviction was imminent McGowan has destroyed the property to the point where the likely course of action is now demolition.
“He stripped the inside of the property of most of its fixtures and fittings, leaving bare wires and bare plumbing. Having done that, just an hour prior to eviction he hired a JCB and completely demolished the rear ground floor of the building rendering it structurally unsafe.”
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