A DISGRUNTLED ex-employee wore a clown mask as he launched a revenge attack on the depot of an Accrington bus company.

Blackburn magistrates heard Paul Carroll used a hammer to smash security cameras before throwing bricks at buses in the yard.

The court was told police were already investigating an alleged blackmail of the bus company owner but Carroll refused to reveal the security number which would allow them to examine his mobile phone.

Carroll, 30, of Claremont Road, Accrington, pleaded guilty to criminal damage to property belonging to Pilkington Bus and failing to comply with a notice under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA). He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with 200 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay £2,590 compensation.

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said Carroll had been dismissed from Pilkington bus on 3 July.

On 18 July he went round to the yard and asked for his job back but was told that was not going to happen.

Later that day the managing director of the company, Adam Pilkington, received a phone call from a man blackmailing him for money.

The man said he had information about one of his drivers who was planning to rob him.

The following day Carroll was caught on CCTV approaching the depot wearing a clown mask and a hi-vis jacket.

Before he smashed one of the cameras an image was captured of a distinctive bruise on his thumb nail.

Carroll was arrested at his home address six days later and his phone seized to find out if there was any evidence on it in relation to the blackmail. The clown mask was also found at his home.

Mr Pilkington said a lot of damage had been caused in the yard to buses and the security cameras.

He said he recognised Carroll and his dog from the footage before the cameras were broken.

Gareth Price, defending, said his client was keen to point out there was no evidence on the mobile phone to link him to any blackmail plot.

“He wasn’t prepared to reveal the pin number because the phone contained personal photographs,” said Mr Price.

“He didn’t see why they should be revealed to anyone else.”