An athlete who is hoping to compete for Britain at the next Olympics in Rio has appeared in court after smashing an estate agent’s window.
Richard Kilty, 24, caused £500 of damage and told police he had acted in a “moment of madness”.
Kilty, who has been trained by Linford Christie, damaged his own hand badly when he punched the plate glass window earlier this month at the premises of Your Move in Stockton-on-Tees. He severed a tendon, requiring hospital treatment.
A court heard that Kilty was upset after his girlfriend had a miscarriage.
During the case, inquiries were made as to whether Kilty could be given a caution for the offence. However, the Crown Prosecution Service said they wished to proceed with the matter as charged, and Kilty entered a guilty plea.
Kilty, who is unemployed and hopes to secure funding for his athletics career, plans to pay compensation at £5 a week.
District Judge Andrew Meachin told him: “To a certain extent, I can understand the background but a lot of people have sad problems in their lives and it doesn’t mean you go and smash a window in the town centre.
“I’ve no wish to deprive you of your potential career but that’s a matter for you to now sort out with Team GB.”
He ordered Kilty to pay £500 compensation and £85 costs.
Kilty, a sprinter, missed out on selection for the London Olympics although he achieved the qualifying time for the 200m event.
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