A man who destroyed his babymother's clothes was order to pay weekly instalments to her until he covered the cost.

Richard Fearon, 35, unemployed, pleaded guilty to assault at common law and malicious destruction of property when he appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.

ongoing argument

Fearon said he and his child's mother had an ongoing argument which led him to destroy her clothes. The complainant told the court that she did not know why he had done it. She also said she needed to get back her clothes as she had nothing to wear.

Fearon told Senior Resident Magistrate Glen Brown that he intended to repay the complainant for the property he had destroyed.

RM Brown told Fearon to begin immediately by paying her $5,000. Fearon complied and was told that he was to bring money each week to pay the complainant until he had completed the payments. A mention date of February 23 was set for the matter.

Fearon said he and his child's mother had an ongoing argument and that was what led him to destroy her clothes.