An irate woman keyed her former partner’s work van after he failed to answer the door to her when she needed to use the loo.

Natalie Morgan had walked past her former lover’s home in Gravesend on May 22 and decided to knock on his door because she wanted to use the toilet.

He didn’t come to the door but his silver Renault traffic panel van was parked in the driveway.

As a result, 41-year-old Morgan got angry as she thought he was at home and ignoring her so she took a key to the vehicle, causing almost £3,000 worth of damage.

She left but later that day called police and admitted what she had done.

Morgan, of Bligh Way, Strood, attended a voluntary interview and was charged with criminal damage.

She admitted the offence when she appeared before Medway magistrates on October 4.

The court heard the repairs to the van cost in total £2,940 as Morgan had damaged multiple panels.

Rajni Prashar, prosecuting, said the director of MTF Diamond Drilling, who owned the van, had given a statement about how the incident affected his business.

“She saw him as her knight in shining armour, but unfortunately he didn’t view it the same way...”

He said he had been forced to rent another van at a cost of £250 a week, had paid for the repairs out of his own pocket and had lost some business as a result of the van being damaged.

Jeremy Betts, defending, said his client had some mental health issues and her actions had been completely out of character.

Mr Betts added: “She had been in a bad relationship. It was abusive and she got out of that and got into a new one and she saw him as her knight in shining armour, but unfortunately he didn’t view it the same way.

“She doesn’t know why she did it. It’s had tremendous effect on her and she was offered a caution but couldn’t pay back the money in the 16-week timeframe.”

The bench ordered she pay compensation of £2,940 back to the firm at a rate of £20 a month.