A DISGRUNTLED former employee threw a brick at a van in a row over unpaid wages, a court has heard.

Silviu Pileandra admitted one count of criminal damage when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

Pileandra had gone to the Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat School in Tupsley, Hereford, with a rucksack carrying broken bricks on October 25, prosecutor Mark Hambling told the court.

He threw one of the bricks at a Ford Transit van in the car park belonging to a company carrying out work at the school, cracking a headlight and chipping the paintwork.

In police interview, a tearful and apologetic Pileandra said he had caused the damage because he had been owed money.

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Chris Read, for Pileandra, said the 35-year-old had been working for the van's owner for some months but that there had been an issue which resulted in the termination of his employment.

"He believed that he had not been paid for the last few weeks he worked," Mr Read said.

The court heard Pileandra had gone to the school intending to challenge the area supervisor, who he knew would be working on the school site at the time.

"He was facing numerous financial difficulties and those unpaid wages were very important to him," Mr Read said.

"He is basically living on an overdraft and earning a very low wage. That has had an impact on his mental health, and he is now taking medication. He is also trying to send money to his wife and child in Romania, so the loss of his job and his wages was massive.

"Eventually, in frustration, he threw this piece of brick at the van."

Mr Read said Pileandra, who has no previous convictions, had been very upset and apologetic when spoken to by police and that it had been a momentary lapse of judgement.

"He did offer to make payment at the police station and I am a little surprised that the matter was not disposed of there by means of a caution," Mr Read said.

Pileandra, of Ryelands Street, Hereford, was handed a six-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay compensation of £100 to A&R Services.

He must also pay a £26 victim surcharge, but no costs order was imposed.

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