ONE of Britain's top sailors has admitted causing £6,000 damage to his love rival's car with a power tool.
Jilted Ross Harvey, 30, flew into a jealous rage after seeing a photo online of ex Charlotte Goodwin-Simpson, 27, with new man Joshua Reay, 31.
The champion sailor went to the couple's house and vandalised Joshua's Audi A4 with a power tool, a court heard.
Police found deep scratches on the windscreen and every panel of the vehicle outside the property in Southsea, Hants.
Magistrates heard Harvey fell into depression after he and fellow sailor Charlotte broke up and he also lost work as a sailing instructor.
He bombarded her ex with texts and emails but she rejected his advances and struck up a relationship with architect Joshua.
On December 4, after spotting a picture of the lovers on the internet, Harvey was seen by police walking down the dead-end street where they lived.
They went to investigate after hearing the power tool. Residents reported seeing Harvey using it to damage the car, prosecutor Keith Ballinger told the court in Swindon, Wilts.
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Harvey, from Swindon, was arrested and later admitted his crime, saying he was very sorry.
Charlotte told police she had ongoing problems with her ex-lover and was worried and scared whenever she thought about them.
Paul Cantrill, mitigating, said Harvey had been upset and "lost his cool" after seeing the photo.
The lawyer said: "He is an extremely talented sailor, has taken part in the World and European championships and was No 1 in the Laser championships.
"He has done a lot of work with disabled children, teaching them to sail."
Harvey admitted causing criminal damage and was given a 12-month community service order with 40 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £3,000 compensation.
He was also placed under a 12-month restraining order and banned from having any contact with his ex-girlfriend.
Chairman of the bench Natalie O'Connell told him to concentrate on working with the probation service on overcoming his problems.
The damage caused to the Audi was estimated at £6,000 but as the car was only worth £3,000 that was the sum Harvey was ordered to pay in compensation.
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