A DIGGER driver who smashed the vehicle’s bucket into the roof of his parents’ static caravan while his mum was inside has been fined £1,000.

Nigel Hull had been for a lunchtime drink at his local before getting on to the vehicle in a fit of rage over a row with his estranged family.

The 49-year-old claimed he only wanted to shift the caravan after disconnecting the power and water and didn’t mean to cause it any damage.

But he accepted he was reckless when he caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to the roof as well as smashing through a fence and washing line.

The prosecutor told Swindon Crown Court on April 4 how the defendant and his parents lived on the same farm near Brinkworth.

Hull pleaded guilty to criminal damage having denied damage endangering life.

The defence said his client had not intended to cause the damage but was reckless using the digger which belonged to a friend and had been left in his yard.

The incident was wholly out of character, he said, and only caused a small amount of damage, which he had paid £2,100 to be repaired within 36 hours.

He said that 45 character references had been submitted speaking of his generosity and professionalism as a heavy haulier.

Passing sentence the judge said: “In October of last year following the very sad breakdown of your relationship with your partner which I won’t go in to the ins and outs of, suffice to say your mother and your wife fell out and the consequences were visited on your father and yourself but, be that as it may and whatever was said, there was no excuse for what you did.”