A jealous yacht owner who cut the moorings to a rival’s boat after claiming he saw his girlfriend romping with him has been spared jail.
Dave Taylor sent Michael Hay’s boat ‘Coco’ spinning down the River Tyne after allegedly spotting Hannah Brookes performing a sex act on him – but both she and Mr Hay deny his accusations.
Just hours earlier the defendant and Miss Brookes had furiously rowed outside the Pitcher and Piano Bar, on the day of his 54th birthday.
The electrician also cut away another motorboat belonging to Mr Hay on the Newcastle quayside leaving it floating downstream unmanned.
David Taylor (pictured left) cut the moorings of a boat where he believed his girlfriend Hannah Brookes (right) was having an affair with another man
Taylor said he saw Ms Brookes perform a sex act on fellow boat-owner Michael Hay (pictured)
The larger vessel was washed down the river in the pitch black on the high tide current, with Miss Brookes, 26, and Mr Hay, 58, aboard.
As the owner tried to control the 60ft yacht he saw his other boat, called ‘Vortex’, was also floating away unmanned.
It hit the quay repeatedly until it got caught by a metal pontoon half a mile downstream.
The fire brigade, coastguard, police and boats from the Port of Tyne were called out to retrieve it.
The incident caused more than £10,000 worth of damage and has left Vortex, a Sealine worth £100,000, out of action for a year.
Mr Hay, a married father of two daughters, later denied that he had had an affair with the former dancer, who is less than half his age.
Miss Brookes denies she had performed a sex act on Mr Hay
Prosecutor Neil Pallister told the court: ‘Mr Hay was on board Coco at the time when female Hannah Brookes boarded his boat and explained that she had an argument with Mr Taylor.
‘Mr Hay was aware of Mr Taylor, both being fellow boat owners. He had known him about five years.
‘He was on the boat coco for three to four minutes when they noticed Mr Taylor standing on the platoon outside of the boat.
‘A short time later Mr Hay realised his boat was drifting away from the platoon.
‘Taylor was also seen to be standing next to Mr Taylor’s other boat Vortex.
‘A short time late that boat was seen to be drifting away into the river.’ Mr Pallister told the court how Mr Hay managed to start the engine even though the boat at the time had a problem with steering issues.
He was able to bring the boat under control and manoeuvre it close to a pontoon allowing two police officers to take hold of some ropes.
Mr Pallister added: ‘The other vessel drifted away down the River Tyne.’
The court heard how the smaller boat, Vortex, bounced all the way along the quayside causing it to become scuffed along the side, and a metal rail around the top of the boat had been distorted.
Mr Pallister said: ‘The significant point is the damage that was caused. It was apparent that five mooring ropes and two electrical cables which kept both boats tied up at the platoon had been cut. And that’s what causes the boats to drift away.’
Mr Pallister told the court how Mr Hay received a text message from Taylor after the incident saying ‘if I owe you anything just let me know how much’.
Mr Hay on board the £450,000 Coco, which was heavily damaged after Taylor cut the moorings
Ms Brookes was said to be screaming, and shouted: ‘What’s happening, am I going to die?’
Miss Brookes has slammed her former partner and said she was disappointed he was not put behind bars
Taylor, 54, pleaded guilty to one count of causing £1,500 worth criminal damage to the electrical cables on Coco and one count of causing £11,490 worth of criminal damage to the Vortex.
He had denied cutting the cables deliberately, claiming it was an accident and his actions were reckless rather than intentional.
However Magistrates at Newcastle Magistrates Court ruled last month that he did intentionally damage the boats.
Amos Waksman, defending, told the court how Taylor suffers from mental health problems.
He said: ‘He didn’t appreciate the level of damage that would follow. ‘He has expressed a degree of remorse.
Furious Taylor also cut the ropes to Mr Hay’s other boat, Vortex, causing £10,000 of damage
‘It’s evident to me in psychiatric reports that this offence occurred against a background of mental health problems.
‘It was likely at the time of this incident he was suffering from such an episode. ‘He’s learnt a lesson through the instigation of these proceedings now, its unlikely he will appear before the court again.’
Judge Robert Adams told the court how he committed the offences for ‘no proper reason that what appears to be his own jealousy’.
Judge Adams told Taylor, of Trimdon Grange, County Durham, the offences were a ‘completely unreasonable’.
He said: ‘You must, when you cut a boat clear of his moorings, understand that damage would be caused to it. ‘It’s seems to be impossible for damage to be avoided in the circumstances. ‘This whole incident seems to be born out of jealousy over your partner.
‘It’s of course an unusual case, with high damage and unusual circumstances. ‘Your actions were completely unreasonable causing great loss to Mr Hay because of your very short relationship with Hannah Brookes.’
Magistrates at Newcastle Magistrates Court ruled last month that he did intentionally damage the boats (Coco pictured)
Judge Adams sentenced Taylor to nine months in prison suspended for 18 months. He also ordered him to complete 200 hours unpaid work and pay Mr Hay £300.
Miss Brookes has slammed her former partner and said she was disappointed he was not put behind bars.
She said: ‘He’s lied – it’s not fair at all. He’s lying. ‘At no point did I perform a sex act on Michael Hay.
‘I’m shocked he walked free. He needs to be locked up.
‘David has turned my life upside down. He has tried to say I’m something I’m not. He implied I was a young naive woman doing something for money and that isn’t the type of person I am.
‘I encourage women not to rely on men, to make their own money and everything David has said has contradicted that.
‘He has damaged my reputation as a business owner. ‘I want other women warned against him. He’s an obsessive maniac.
‘He tried to make it look like I was after Mike, trying to get his money.
‘He’s tried to ruin my life, publicly shame me and he has not got what he deserves.
‘I wanted him locked up today. Now, I just want to move on with my life.’