A 41-year-old Tilburger is suspected of causing havoc in Tilburg last year with a shovel and a loader. On Tuesday afternoon he sat like a tame lamb before the judge in Breda. He can’t remember much about it, but seems genuinely sorry. Nevertheless, the public prosecutor demanded a one-year prison sentence and that he be supervised by the probation service.
It was Sunday, June 19, around nine o’clock in the morning, when the police in Tilburg were alerted. A confused man, his eyes wide open, had walked into a lot on the Broekstraat and threw an iron milk churn through the window of a car without cause.
He then started a shovel and with it he drove into a police car. He allegedly made stabbing movements in the direction of a policeman with a knife. He also destroyed flower boxes with a loader. Police had to fire warning shots to apprehend the suspect.
Anxious situation
The man who was in the damaged car wanted to see his horse that morning. Instead, he got the shock of his life. He is still in awe of what happened to him. Fortunately, he dares to visit the horse again, but he always has to think back to the frightening situation. The suspect then apologized to him.
The suspect let it all come over him during the hearing. It seemed that he had already resigned himself to punishment.
‘No lame bullshit’
“I had just been released after being detained for six days. Then I spent four days in a hotel where I barely slept and only used speed. Due to personal circumstances I was completely off track. I don’t remember exactly what happened that morning. Not even that the police used pepper spray and a taser. And that’s really not a load of crap.”
The Tilburger was still on probation a year ago after a previous conviction. The public prosecutor therefore believes that he should still serve the three-month suspended prison sentence.
His lawyer believes that his client has been sentenced long enough with nine months in custody and should not go to jail again.
The prosecutor also demanded that the man pay compensation for the damage he caused. The victims can count on that, the Tilburger promised.