A RADIO DJ who smashed a baseball bat so hard over a bailiff's van he broke it in two narrowly avoided jail after refusing to complete his community service.
Darren Duckworth, of Market Weighton, had been ordered to complete 150 hours' unpaid work after he was convicted by a jury of criminal damage and affray in April last year.
Duckworth threatened to smash into a bailiff's van, who had arrived at his house to take away his girlfriend's car for unpaid court costs.
He then threatened him with the bat, hitting it so hard on to the van that it split in two.
Prosecuting, Cathy Kioko said: "The defendant came out of the address and went towards the complainant with a clenched fist.
"He said 'move your van or I will knock seven bells of s*** out of you'.
"The defendant got into the Corsa and began reversing it towards the complainant's van as he tried to get inside.
"Each time he tried to get into the van, he reversed at speed.
"As the complainant was on the phone to police, the defendant came out of the house holding a wooden baseball bat.
"He moved towards the complainant's van and tried to open the doors but he had locked himself inside.
"The complainant then started to reverse away from the defendant, who started to hit the van with the baseball bat.
"Before the complainant could leave the area, he hit the van with such force the baseball bat split in two."
Since June, the Vixen 101 community radio DJ has managed just 29 hours of unpaid work.
When challenged by Judge Mark Bury at Hull Crown Court about the breach, Duckworth told him he did not have time to do it.
Representing himself, he told Judge Bury: "I didn't know I was committing affray, I thought I was perfectly within my rights to chase a man away from my house who was threatening my wife and child.
"I am not prepared to do it, I can't fit it in, I just don't have time for it. No one is going to die if I don't do this community work, so I am not going to do it."
Judge Bury said: "I have to tell you, your attitude has put you in a situation whereby I am considering sending you to prison."
Duckworth said: "I have had enough, it has already cost me so much of my life that I can't be bothered any more.
"It has destroyed me."
In the middle of proceedings, Duckworth's mobile phone rang and he apologised, saying: "Sorry, I am on the school run."
He also asked for his travel expenses to be covered if he were to complete the unpaid work, to which Judge Bury replied: "No, you will be taken there in a van."
Judge Bury said: "You have to do this work, it is as simple as that.
"I am trying to keep you out of prison but as hard as I am trying to keep you out, you seem to be trying hard to get in."
Duckworth said: "I have just had enough of this life, there is nothing to offer me any more.
"I am not suicidal but I have lost the respect I had in Market Weighton for being an idiot with a baseball bat."
A probation officer then informed the court he could do unpaid work on a Sunday, which Duckworth agreed to.
Increasing the unpaid work order by ten hours, Judge Bury said: "Be under no illusion if you do not complete this work, there will be a custodial sentence."
