[MSN] U.K. Man went on rampage at art exhibition.

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Man went on rampage at art exhibition
By Telegraph newsdesk
ARTISTS were left angry and upset when a drunk went on the rampage causing
more than £1,000 worth of damage to their paintings.

Christopher Muir targeted almost 300 pictures which had been gathered
together at the Colne Municipal Hall for an exhibition, a court was told.

Muir damaged picture frames, glass and canvas, then told police he had been
so drunk he could remember nothing about it.

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Muir, 51, of Marton, Blackpool, pleaded guilty to causing damage. He also
admitted assaulting a paramedic at Blackpool by spitting on him, threatening
the owner of a kennels at Marton, saying the dogs were too noisy, and theft
of a credit card in london.

He was put on 12 months supervision during which he must attend an alcohol
rehabilitation course and ordered to pay £100 compensation to the paramedic,
plus £150 costs by Blackpool magistrates.

Pam Smith, said in October last year Mr Anthony Dodd, manager of the Colne
Memorial Hall, took delivery of 280 paintings which were to form an
exhibition by local arts.

The prosecutor said: "The paintings were laid out on the floor and the
building was secured for the weekend."

On October 9 staff entered the hall to find damage had been done to numerous
picture frames, glass and canvas.

The prosecutor added: "Police identified Muir from CCTV footage. When
interviewed he said he had no memory of events as he was drunk. he added
that he was ashamed of himself.

"The cost of the damage was put at over £1,000. The council claimed on its
insurance."

Hugh Pond, defending, told magistrates: "All these offences were committed
while he was intoxicated. He also has slight psychiatric problems."


5:19pm Wednesday 12th September 2007

http://www.burnleycitizen.co.uk/