Vandal Smashes TVs in Busy Currys Before Jail Sentence
A troublemaker who smashed two TVs with a metal bar in a busy Currys PC World has been locked up. Tomass Averats went on a rampage in April 2019 at the Chatham store, causing chaos while customers looked on in shock.
Violent Outburst Ends in Police Assault
The 32-year-old, with no fixed address, didn’t stop at vandalism. After being arrested, Averats attacked two Kent Police officers checking on him in custody. He pleaded guilty to:
- Two counts of assaulting an emergency worker
- Two counts of possessing an offensive weapon
- Possession of a knife in public
- Two counts of criminal damage
Jail Time for Shop Rampage and More
On 15 May 2020 at Maidstone Crown Court, Averats was sentenced to three years behind bars. This includes a 20-month sentence for previous crimes in Bristol.
On the day of the attack, Averats pulled a metal bar from his coat and smashed two TV screens at the Horsted Retail Park store on Maidstone Road. Staff scrambled and managed to restrain him before police arrived.
Weapon Haul Found on Suspect
Officers found a kitchen knife in his pocket and a rock with a rope tied around it in his bag. Police Sergeant Glen Rickersey said:
‘Averats’ violent behaviour would have been terrifying for shoppers and shop staff. He also acted with contempt and violence towards those officers who were checking on his welfare when he was in custody. Averats clearly had the intention to commit similar acts from the weapons we discovered in his possession and this result means we have been able to prevent that from happening.’
