A Carlisle hostel resident who threw a kettle of boiling water at a staff member has been jailed.
James Anthony Fargher, 33, was staying at city centre premises when his offending behaviour occurred on October 15.
At around 11pm, Fargher attended an office and told a female employee he was going to make a cup of tea in the adjacent kitchen. Carlisle Crown Court heard she then noticed milk splashed on a window between the two areas and went to investigate. Fargher threw a cup of tea at one window, smashing it.
When the woman tries to reason with him, he threw a kettle of boiling water at her.
“She managed to dodge it even though some of it landed on her head, causing what she referred to as some discomfort,” said prosecutor Brendan Burke.
A female colleague joined her but Fargher’s behaviour was so extreme they retreated to the office. He damaged computer screens, a cooker top and furniture.
He also tried to smash another window with one chair and then succeeded with a second with Mr Burke saying that scene photographs captured a “scene of mayhem”.
Fargher, who caused damage topping £2,000, also made a kill threat before the two women fled the building and police were called.
The woman who had the kettle thrown at her later spoke of losing a basic level of trust in all residents and feeling scared.
When brought to court, Fargher admitted criminal damage and affray, breaching previous two court-imposed community orders for past offending in the process.
After considering the contents of a probation service report update, Judge Nicholas Barker jailed Fargher, formerly of Appleby but latterly of Lowther Street, Carlisle, for a total of 18 months.
