A spurned Hadleigh man has been jailed for carrying out an alcohol-fuelled crimewave after the breakdown of his relationship.

Robert Scarfe stole from his father, plugged the exhaust of his ex-girlfriend’s car with mud, intended to put dog mess through her door, drove a stolen digger into a ditch, crashed a car while drink-driving, and pinched two charity boxes full of money from a pub.

The homeless 51-year-old also ordered a meal at the pub which he failed to pay for and stole a bottle of wine from a shop.

Ipswich magistrates heard Scarfe had previously admitted four thefts, drink-driving, making off without payment, aggravated vehicle taking, harassment, and criminal damage.

Prosecutor Wayne Ablett said Scarfe’s relationship ended due to his apparent overuse of alcohol.

On February 2 police were called at 10.45pm to Scarfe’s Mazda which had crashed on the A1071 at Hadleigh. It appeared to have come out of the junction with Lavenham Road, collided with the kerb before hitting some boards opposite.

A blood test showed Scarfe had 97 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80mlgs.

On February 9 Scarfe went to The Peacock pub in Chelsworth and ordered food and drink worth £25.31. He left without paying taking two charity boxes full of money with him. The boxes were for Cerebra for Brain Injured Children and The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. Mr Ablett said the exact amount of money was unknown.

On the same day Scarfe stole a £5 bottle of wine from the Co-op in Hadleigh High Street.

On February 10 Scarfe took a digger from Chapel Farm in Hitcham, drove it over the farmyard, across several fields and into a ditch before abandoning it with damage estimated at £4,000.

Scarfe subsequently went to his ex-partner Julie Scott’s home with a plastic bag of dog mess. He also shouted through the letter box.

Scott also sent texts and tried to call her on number of occasions between February and March 13 after effectively being kicked out by Miss Scott on January 31.

The court heard that on March 12 Miss Scott found mud and stones plugging the exhaust of her car causing £200 damage. A neighbour had a similar incident involving Scarfe.

While living with his father Trevor in Bildeston between January 31 and February 18 Scarfe also stole more than 100 coins valued at £2,000 leaving his father distressed.

Nicola Pope, mitigating, said the offences occurred after Scarfe went into a deep depression and self-medicated with alcohol.

Alan Wade, chairman of the bench, told him: “This was a two-week, alcohol-fuelled escapade. You caused a lot of damage, a lot of inconvenience and long-lasting emotional hurt to members of your family.”

Unemployed Scarfe was jailed for a total of 12 weeks, disqualified from driving for 18 months, and ordered to pay compensation totalling £825 from his benefits to the farmer, Miss Scott, her neighbour and the pub.

He was also give a two-year restraining order forbidding him to contact Miss Scott.