A MAN who smashed up his own kitchen in a rage and attacked his stepdaughter blamed his anger on his relative’s unannounced visit.

Gary Haines, 38, of St Michael’s Close in Lyneham, pleaded guilty to assault by beating and driving without insurance, as he’d stormed out of the house and driven off after the incident.

Pauline Lambert, prosecuting, said: “The stepdaughter went to visit her mum and little sister at 11am on May 31 with her five-year-old daughter and 21-month-old son. Mr Haines slammed doors and the stepdaughter could hear things smashing.

“Her mum was scared to go into the kitchen and stayed with the children in the lounge.They could see food and rubbish all over the floor, then heard another loud smash - the door between the kitchen and hallway had been broken, there was glass everywhere.”

Ms Lambert added that when Haines’ stepdaughter confronted him about his behaviour, he assaulted her. She said: “She went to Mr Haines in the dining room and asked ‘What are you doing?’ He grabbed her by the top of her arms and pushed her backwards halfway across the kitchen, then pushed her again.

“Frightened, she grabbed a mug, then he snatched the mug, said ‘I’ll do it’, and hit himself over the head with it. It did not smash and caused bleeding.

The court was told that when his stepdaughter called the police, Haines drove off in a Ford Focus, even though he had no insurance to drive the car.

When police caught up with him, the prosecutor said Haines tried to explain his actions in interview.

Ms Lambert added: “He said there have been tensions between him and the victim for some time because she frequently turns up unannounced.

“This upset him, so he threw around pots and pans, then slammed the door but didn’t mean to break it.

“He wanted her to leave and told her to get out. He hit himself out of anger because he wanted to take his anger out on himself and no-one else.”

Emma Charleton, defending Haines, said: “Though the young children were in the home at the time, I can’t see anything to suggest that they were in the kitchen when the incident happened.

“Mr Haines knows that what he did was unacceptable, but it all boiled over.

“He knew he was uninsured but felt that he needed to leave the situation and go to his mother’s.”

Haines was fined £120 each for the assault and driving offences, given six penalty points on his licence, and ordered to pay £85 in costs and £30 to victim services.