This is the moment a retiree exacted revenge on a new neighbor by slashing their £60,000 Lexus with a key during a dispute about the homeowners’ association.
Keith Ardley, 75, was reported to have intentionally destroyed Marius Crisan’s new automobile out of envy.
He was spotted on surveillance footage running a key along the side of their Lexus 450h Hybrid in the parking lot of their apartment complex.
The video depicts the flash of a key in his right hand as he draws three sporadic lines into the paint.
Keith Ardley and his wife Elizabeth have lived in the building in Bournemouth, Dorset, for the past four decades.
After the victim moved into the apartments and attempted to form a homeowners’ association, tensions between Ardley and Mr. Crisan began to rise.
Ardley, who has lived in the building for forty years with his wife Elizabeth, advised Mr. Crisan to “keep quiet and maintain a low profile” because he was a newcomer.
On January 8, 2022, as he walked past Mr. Crisan’s automobile, the retired council IT employee eventually shouted his annoyance.
Mr. Crisan, age forty, observed the damage the following day and contacted the security company that operates the CCTV at Wimbledon Hall in Bournemouth, Dorset, to review the tape.
Ardley, who is partially deaf and blind, was charged with criminally damaging Mr. Crisan’s vehicle to the tune of £1,000.
Video of the incident shows Ardley’s right hand flashing a key.
CCTV captured him lying as he ran a key along the side of a black Lexus 450h Hybrid.
Keith and Elizabeth Ardley are pictured leaving Poole Magistrates Court.
The defendant denied committing the crime and insisted in court that he never lied.
Mrs. Ardley testified that she observed the scratches the day prior to the incident.
The prosecutor, Jason Spelman, told magistrates in Poole that the couple’s explanations were illogical.
He stated, “The defendant scratched three lines into Mr. Crisan’s new car using a key.”
“We have CCTV footage that clearly shows the suspect scoring the car,”
The defendant claimed that he was only feeling for the scrapes his wife had noted the day before by running his fingers along the automobile.
Ardley testified, “I ran my fingers along the car’s scratches in just four seconds, but only along half of the vehicle.”
Even yet, I could not have harmed the automobile because the keys in my palm were contained in a leather bag.
My wife and I have never lied; we have always told the truth.
Mr. Spelman asked the elderly guy, “You’re telling a huge falsehood, aren’t you?
How likely is it that you discovered them instantly as you went beside the car?
“It is evident from the footage that you paid no real attention to the vehicle at all.”
You were sneaky because you believed no one was watching and that you could get away with it.
Were you envious of Mr. Crisan’s luxurious automobile?
“When he attempted to organize a residents organization, you had a really hostile conversation with him.
You advised him to be quiet and keep a low profile because he was new to the neighborhood.
The court ruled Ardley guilty after viewing the video.
After viewing the camera footage, the magistrates found Ardley guilty; he was ordered to pay Mr. Crisan £1,000 in compensation and £620 in court costs.
Debbie Scudmore, in mitigation, stated that her client was of good character and had no prior convictions.
She stated, “He has vehemently denied committing the crime, and his wife says she saw the scratches the day before.”
Daniel Church, the presiding magistrate, stated to Ardley, “I have considered your previous good character and read the testimonials from former coworkers attesting to your honesty.
“However, when I listened to the evidence you and Elizabeth presented, I saw numerous contradictions.
“A CCTV image of your keys reveals that they were not in the leather pouch as you claimed.
“You stated in your statement to the police that your wife pointed out the scratch on the car as you walked by.”
“In the video, she never glances back at you, and she had no idea you had touched the automobile.
CCTV did not capture you touching the vehicle with your fingertips.
I am convinced that you scratched the car, and I thus find you guilty of criminal damage.
The court ordered Ardley to pay Mr. Crisan $1,000 in compensation and £620 in court fees.
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