A 29-year-old man, charged with malicious destruction of property, yesterday told the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court that he only used a 'dutch pot' to destroy his mother's home and belongings after he became upset when she ordered him out her house.

Angela Dixon, the accused man's mother, told the courts that she wanted her son out of the house and disciplined by the courts because he was involved in illegal acts, which she despised as a Christian. "He is coming in late in the mornings, your honour," Dixon said. "And getting involved in illegal things like car stealing and drugs."

However, Orville Bennett, the accused man, told the courts that he had no idea what his mother was talking about, as he was not involved with drugs or car stealing. He said that the problem was that his mother wanted him to be in the house by 7 p.m. nightly, which was quite difficult as he was a taxi operator.

Bennett continued that when his mother asked him to leave the house, which he said he had been occupying for five years, he got upset and used the pot to "mash up some tings". The damage done amounted to $360,000.