by A man who was high on cocaine burst into a stranger’s friend’s house, licked his face and punched his mother in the stomach. “Gentle giant” James Costello, 39, told his victim he “loved” him after climbing on top of him on the sofa before kicking a dog during the bizarre incident.
He told a judge today that his drinking was “well out of hand” as he begged her to give him an alcohol tag. Costello “used to be friends with” his victim before the two “fell apart.” But he bumped into the man’s mother in a shop in Warrington in March this year.
He bought a bottle of vodka and “appeared to have a white powder around his nose” Ken Grant, prosecuting, told Liverpool Crown Court.
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After chatting, the woman informed Costello that her son’s dog had died before the pair went their separate ways, the Liverpool Echo reports.
The mother and son were then at home around 6pm on the same day, with the latter sleeping on a sofa in the living room with his partner and child when the drunk and drugged intruder suddenly came up through the back door, went in. the living room and climbed on” the other man. When he woke up, he shouted: “What the f *** are you doing?”
But Costello continued to put his hands around the back of the man’s head, told him he “loved him” and licked his face. He then pushed him away and kicked one of the complainant’s dogs.
The unwelcome guest then proceeded to slap the mother on the backside before accidentally kicking a swing seat that the infant was kept in as he “stumbled around”. When the woman was attacked, the woman replied: “Don’t you dare do that to me.”
Costello became “aggressive” after the man’s girlfriend ordered him to leave, telling her she was “irrelevant and could be replaced”. He was then physically escorted from the premises and left.
A small amount of cocaine was found alongside a rolled up bank note when he was arrested. During the interview, Costello said he had “entered the property to give his friend a hug” and said “this is not unusual behavior.”
He has a total of 10 previous convictions for 18 offenses including possession of a class C drug with intent to supply, assault occasioning bodily harm, criminal damage, drink driving and possession of cocaine. His most recent brush with the law came in 2020, when he was fined for obstructing the police.
Simeon Evans, defending, told the court his client had “self-medicated by overindulging in alcohol and sometimes Class A drugs” and added: “It appears his intoxicated state at the time was at the bottom what happened is an unusual situation..
“He went around to pay his respects to a man who was a friend of his. He used to go in and out of that house.
“He behaved in a way that he intended to be light-hearted and brotherly. It’s clear that he was not brought up that way at all. He knows very well that he cannot behave that way and that he must he is considerate of those around him.
“What he did did not arise from a sense of malice. At first, at least, it was a misguided attempt to empathize and then, when he was drunk, he realized that he was not welcome.”
Costello, of Leicester Street in Whitecross, Warrington, admitted two counts of assault and possession of cocaine. Seen in the dock wearing a gray suit with a shaved head, he was given an 18-month community order.
Sentencing, Judge Louise Brandon said: “I hope you realize how serious the impact of your behavior has been. It has caused her great fear and anxiety. She is now worried about seeing you .
Costello interrupted at this point to say: “I’m sorry, your honor. I’m sorry. I’m embarrassed, your honor. I’m sorry, your honor.”
The judge then continued: “I take it that you are remorseful for the offences. You realize that your behavior was inappropriate, although it was well-meaning.”
“References show that there is another side to your character. You have some mental health problems. I am told that you are willing to face them. There is work that can be done with you.”
Costello was also given a five-year restraining order, a thinking skills programme, a 12-month mental health treatment requirement and a three-month abstinence from alcohol requirement. He replied: “I understand it’s out of hand. If you gave me an alcohol tag, that’s what I would do.
“I’d love one. You’ve given me the greatest gift. I really mean that, thank you so much. Give me more if you can. I messed up, that’s all.”
As he left the dock, Costello told him: “I’m just a gentle giant. Thank you for your honor. Wow. That was scary.”
