Exeter youth who wrecked family home in drunken rage spared jail after parent’s plea

A youth who wrecked his family home in a drunken rage has been spared jail after his parents pleaded for him to be freed.

Ryan Budd’s terrified family barricaded themselves into their living room as he demolished the front and back doors but he then smashed his way through the front window armed with a knife.

His brother and girlfriend locked themselves into a downstairs bathroom and Budd’s mother was knocked to the ground and injured as she tried to stop him breaking the door down.

His parents Colin and Tracey wept in the public gallery of Exeter Crown Court as a Judge showed mercy on their son after reading a plea from them free him from prison and let him come home.

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Budd, aged 20, of Hawthorn Road, Exeter, has been remanded in custody since being subdued with pepper spray and arrested four weeks ago.

He admitted affray and was jailed for eight months, suspended for two years, and ordered to attend an alcohol awareness course as part of 18 months supervision. He was told to pay £340 costs and a £100 victim surcharge.

Judge Francis Gilbert, QC, told him:”Your mother says in her letter to me that you are not really a violent person and both your parents have asked that this case results in a sentence which will allow you to return home.

“This was an act of violence for which there must be punishment but I am able to suspend the sentence. You say you will be paying for all the damage you caused. You will have to sort that out if you want to remain on good terms with your parents.”

Miss Janice Eagles, prosecuting, said Budd returned home to Hawthorn Road at 2 am after a row with his girlfriend and was locked out by his parents because he was drunk and abusive.

He smashed in the back door with a heavy parasol base from the garden and his brother Bradley, girlfriend and parents retreated to the living room where they leant against the door to stop him getting in.

He smashed the front door and used a piece of wood to smash the window of the room where they were sheltering, climbing in armed with a ten inch kitchen knife.

The others took refuge again by locking themselves in a bathroom and his mother was knocked over as she tried to stop him getting in. She suffered a three inch gash as her head hit a door frame.

Budd’s brother went to his mother’s aid and police arrived as he was grappling with him. They used Captor spray to arrest him.

The knife was found embedded in a wall of the living room with such force that the blade had broken off from the handle.

Miss Julia Cox, defending, said Budd’s family are keen to have him home and passed the judge letters in which they pleaded for mercy.