Fella bursts into pal’s home, licks face and slaps mum on the bum and kicks canine

A “gentle giant” burst into a sleeping man’s house, licked his face and slapped his mum on the bum. James Costello told his victim, an estranged friend, that he “loved him” after clambering on top of him on a sofa before kicking a dog.

His bizarre cocaine-fuelled behaviour followed an earlier chance meeting in a shop. He today thanked a judge for “giving him the biggest gift” in the sentence she imposed upon him and begged: “Give me more if you can.”

Liverpool Crown Court heard today, Wednesday, that Costello “used to be friends with” his victim before the two “drifted apart”. The 39-year-old, of Leicester Street in Whitecross, Warrington, then bumped into the man’s mother in a shop in the town in March this year, reports Liverpool Echo

Ken Grant, prosecuting, described how the defendant purchased a bottle of vodka and “appeared to have white powder around his nose”. After striking up a conversation, the woman informed Costello that her son’s dog had died before the two went their separate ways.

The mum and son were then at home at around 6pm the same day, with the latter being asleep on a sofa in the living room with his partner and their baby when the drunken and drugged up intruder “suddenly came through the back door, went into the living room and climbed onto” the other male. Upon waking, he shouted: “What the f*** are you doing?”

But Costello proceeded to wrap his arms around the back of the man’s head, told him “he loved him” and licked his face. He was then pushed away and kicked one of the complainant’s dogs.

The unwelcome guest then went onto slap the mother on the backside before accidentally kicking a swing seat the infant child had been kept in while “stumbling around”. Upon being assaulted, the woman replied: “Don’t you dare do that to me.”

Costello “became aggressive” after being ordered to leave by the man’s girlfriend, telling her she was “irrelevant and could be replaced”. He was then physically escorted from the premises and left.

A small quantity of cocaine was discovered alongside a rolled bank note upon his arrest. Under interview, Costello said he had “gone into the property to give his friend a man hug” and added that “this was not unusual behaviour”.

He has a total of 10 previous convictions for 18 offences including possession of a class C drug with intent to supply, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, criminal damage, drink driving and possession of cocaine. His latest brush with the law came in 2020, when he was fined for obstructing police.

Simeon Evans, defending, told the court that his client had “self-medicated by over indulging in alcohol and occasionally in class A drugs” and added: “His state of intoxication at the time does seem to be at the root of what happened. It is an unusual case.

“He went around to give what he thought was sympathy to a man who was his friend. He had been used to going in and out of that house. He behaved in a way which he intended to be light hearted and brotherly. Clearly, it was not taken that way at all. He does very much know he cannot behave in that way and that he needs to be considerate to those around him.

“What he did didn’t emerge from a sense of malice. It was initially, at least, a misguided attempt to proffer sympathy and then, in his intoxicated state, he realised that he was not welcome.”

Costello admitted two counts of assault and possession of cocaine. Appearing in the dock wearing a grey suit and with a shaved head, he was handed an 18-month community order.

Sentencing, Judge Louise Brandon said: “I hope that you understand just how serious an impact your behaviour has had. It has caused her great fear and anxiety. She now worries about seeing you.

Costello interrupted at this stage to say: “I’m very sorry, your honour. I’m sorry. I’m ashamed, your honour. I’m very sorry, your honour.”

The judge then continued: “I accept that you are remorseful when it comes to the offences. You understand that your behaviour was inappropriate, albeit well meaning.

“References demonstrate that there is a different side to your character. You have some mental health problems. I am told that you are prepared to address them. There is work that can be done with you.”

Costello was also handed a five-year restraining order, a thinking skills programme, a 12-month mental health treatment requirement and a three-month alcohol abstinence requirement. He responded: “I realise it’s got well out of hand. If you give me an alcohol tag, it would be the making of me.

“I’d love one. You’ve give me the biggest gift. I genuinely mean that, thank you very much. Give me more if you can. I just messed up, that’s all.”

As he left the dock, Costello added: “I’m just a gentle giant. Thank you your honour. Wow. That was so scary.”