A VERNHAM Dean man who smashed up his mother's house in a drunken rampage has been given a conditional discharge after a judge heard the family had "put it behind them".

Kameron Gregory Etherington, of Hatchbury Lane, walked away with just £107 to pay after causing criminal damage after returning home from a night at the pub.

Basingstoke Magistrates' Court heard today (December 7) that on September 19 2020 had burst through his mother's home just after 2.30am, asking for her car keys.

His mother told him she didn't know where they were and he shouldn't be driving, he reacted in anger, the court was told.

The 22-year-old then proceeded to “smash” parts of the property, including throwing a meat cleaver at one door and pulling his bedroom door off of its hinges.

He told police at the time: “I smashed up my house. I went on a rampage.”

In mitigation, defence solicitor Mr Curtis said he, “fully accepted the allegation and stated he is remorseful".

In a letter read aloud in court, Etherington’s mother and step-father said that, while they understood the decision was out of their hands, “it was never our intention for Kameron to be arrested".

They added: “Our relationship with Kameron is strong now. We have all put that night behind us.”

They said their son had previously suffered with depression, but that he had recently bought a house with his girlfriend, had not been drinking since that night and had no intention of doing so again, and had already paid £200 to replace the damaged property.

“We are incredibly proud of him,” they said.

Mr Curtis said: “The only item that could not be replaced was a candle holder, so he obviously knows what he needs to get his mother for Christmas!”

Judge Tim Pattinson said: “I am not going to underestimate the seriousness of this matter, because it was a thoroughly unpleasant incident for all concerned.

“It seems to me you have shown a lot of remorse and rebuilt any bridges that were broken as a result of this.”

He let Etherington go on conditional discharge, but required him to pay a £22 surcharge and £85 in costs by January 7.