Guelph man ordered to pay for replacement of bar window

GUELPH An area man who smashed a downtown bar window received a suspended sentence Friday but was ordered to pay restitution.

Stuart John Cunningham, 28, wearing a black leather jacket, hoodie and jeans, was also ordered by Justice Elliott Allen in Ontario Court of Justice to embrace help for substance abuse.

In the early-morning hours last July 5, Cunningham punched and broke a $400 window at Jimmy Jazz, on Macdonell Street, for which he pleaded guilty to mischief Friday.

Vandalism and hooliganism has been a public issue for years in downtown Guelphs entertainment district.

Friday, Cunningham also pleaded guilty to breach of an undertaking to abstain from alcohol. On July 30, an officer on patrol saw Cunningham on Victoria Road carrying a beer bottle.

Defence lawyer Ron Noble noted Cunningham had spent five days in pretrial custody. He also stressed the pipefitter was receiving addiction counselling and will be returning to work when thats completed.

Noble said at the time of the incident Cunningham, a young father who lives in Morriston, was angry but took that anger out on a window rather than a person.

Im sorry it had to come to this, Cunningham told Allen.

Prosecutor Marilyn Dolby suggested its time Cunningham put his problem with alcohol behind him.

vkirsch@guelphmercury.com

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Guelph man ordered to pay for replacement of bar window