Anthony Bennett, 39, went out in his van two nights running, using a Stanley knife to hack down the signs.
Bennett was angry at having lost his entire £1,000 deposit over a stained carpet, blaming agents Mark Boutlon and Co of Greater Manchester.
After losing his job and his home, Bennett became temporarily homeless, sleeping in his van. Further frustrated by having to pay bedroom tax on his new flat, he decided to get his own back on estate agents across the Rochdale Area.
He targeted several agents in his quest, cutting down scores of For Sale signs. One firm lost 50 boards at £22 each, whilst four others lost around 60 each in his two day haul.
With total damage of over £2,000 Bennett handed himself into the police.
At Bury Magistrates court Bennett was ordered to pay £500 in compensation to four firms and was given a three-month community rehabilitation order. Further to this, his van was impounded and a six-week curfew between the hours of 9.30pm and 7am was imposed.
He admitted the theft, but said that he had expected to have lost a "reasonable amount" of his deposit to cover the stained carpet, but not the whole amount.
Magistrate Stephen Griffiths told Bennett: "Estate agents might not be the most popular of people but they have lost money and you are going to have to pay them. You have caused considerable loss."
Tenants - save yourself the anguish and protect yourself against lost deposits
with comprehensive tenant contents insurance.
Richard Anthony
www.discountlandlord.co.uk
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