Customer’s ‘disgusting’ vendetta against staff
Building society attacked with urine and faeces
AN angry customer threw urine and faeces at the front door of a building society, as well as threatening to kill every member of staff.
Daniel Khoo carried out a destructive and disgusting vendetta against Coventry Building Society in Birmingham city centre, racking up a £25,000 bill for the business.
The 35-year-old threatened to burn the Corporation Street branch down and then “screamed” at a manager down the phone warning he would “slit everybody’s throats” after being refused money.
He then attacked the building on four separate occasions whilst it was closed, pelting it with urine and faeces, causing it to remain shut due to the stench left inside and leaving staff fearful for their safety.
Khoo admitted six offences but presented something of a dilemma for Judge Kristina Montgomery QC, passing sentence at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday, November 13. She expressed concerns he had not fully opened up to the probation service about his state of mind at the time, describing him as an “island”. Khoo, from London but currently staying in temporary accommodation in Birmingham, was handed an 18-month sentence, suspended for 18 months.
He attended the branch on August 26 to withdraw £500 but a staff member had to ask him a series of security questions, which he failed, due to an investigation into suspicious activity on the account.
“He became agitated and verbally aggressive demanding money,” said prosecutor Nicholas Berry. “He said he would burn the building to the ground. A manager told him to leave.” On September 3 he called the bank to complain. Later in the day a manager rang him back.
Mr Berry said: “The defendant was described as screaming at the top of his lungs, making threats to kill everybody and slit everybody’s throats. He said for every pound they didn’t give him he was going to kill a member of staff.”
At around 6.40am on September 7, Khoo was spotted on CCTV pouring
urine through the bank’s letterbox. A week later he returned holding a crisp packet, inside which were faeces that he smeared on the front door and window before taking a picture of his handiwork. The bank was forced to close for the whole day.
Khoo carried out a similar attack on September 16 but was disturbed by a security guard. He returned the following day and smeared faeces on the front door, the handle, the buzzer, the fob control and inside the overnight drop box. He also poured urine over the entrance. The building was closed for an hour.
Coventry Building Society had to spend £7,556 cleaning the building and replacing the damaged boxes. They spent a further £17,858 on security guards.
Mr Berry said the closures were due to the “unbearable smell”. He added: “He caused stress and anxiety for several members of staff. One had difficulty sleeping, others were left looking over their shoulders with worry.”
Khoo admitted four counts of criminal damage, one of threatening to destroy property and one of threatening communication.
Olivia Beesley, defending, said that work had dried up for selfemployed Khoo during lockdown and he was struggling “emotionally, financially and mentally”.
Judge Montgomery said: “In your own mind you thought you were avenging their wrongdoing and that your means by way of avenging it were impactful and made a statement. They were in fact childish and disgusting.
“Nothing you did made a statement about anybody other than yourself, demonstrating what a sad person you had become. I have read you are estranged from your parents and you have no support network. There is little by the way of close family and friends. It seems to me you had become an island.”
Referring to Khoo’s pre-sentence interview with probation she added: “You were given the opportunity to speak openly but you have given away very little of what’s going on in your mind.”
Khoo must carry out 30 days of rehabilitation activity, 150 hours of unpaid work, pay a victim surcharge and adhere to a two-month curfew.