A CARLISLE hostel resident threw a kettle of boiling water at a staff member as he behaved violently and left a scene of “mayhem”.

James Anthony Fargher, 33, was staying at the city centre premises when his offending behaviour occurred on October 15.

At around 11pm, Fargher attended an office and told a female employee he was going to make a cup of tea in the adjacent kitchen.

Carlisle Crown Court heard she then noticed milk splashed on a window between the two areas and went to investigate. Fargher threw a cup of tea at one window, smashing it.

“She began trying to reason with the defendant,” said prosecutor Brendan Burke, “at which point he threw a kettle of boiling water at her.

“She managed to dodge it even though some of it landed on her head, causing what she referred to as some discomfort.”

A female colleague joined her but they retreated to the office due his behaviour becoming so extreme. He was damaging computer screens, a cooker top and furniture. He tried to smash another window with one chair and then succeeded with a second.

“There is a scene, really, of mayhem depicted in 12 pictures,” said Mr Burke, who said the total damage bill topped £2,000.

“He was shouting ‘I’m going to kill you’. The women fled the building and called the police.”

When officers arrived they found Fargher sitting in a probation officer’s area of an office.

When brought to court, Fargher admitted criminal damage and affray, breaching previous two court-imposed community orders for past offending in the process.

Judge Nicholas Barker had been due to pass sentence before Christmas but adjourned the case for several weeks to seek an update on Fargher from the probation service.

Defence barrister Anthony Parkinson, for Fargher, said of that: “It was right that the probation service were given some time to assess all the options, and they were.”

Mr Parkinson also stated of the defendant, who has a history of mental health problems: “He has always been realistic in relation to the likely outcome.

Judge Barker jailed Fargher, previously of The Sands, Appleby, and latterly of Lowther Street, Carlisle, for a total of 18 months.