A drunk man high on cocaine stormed into the home of an estranged friend, licked his face and slapped his mother on the bottom. Self-described “gentle giant” James Costello, 39, told his victim he “loved her” after climbing on top of her on the sofa before kicking a dog during the bizarre incident.
He told a judge today that his drinking had become “out of control” and he had begged her to give him an alcohol label. Costello was “friends” with his victim before the two “broke up”. However, in March this year he encountered the man’s mother at a shop in Warrington.
He bought a bottle of vodka and “had white powder around his nose”, prosecutor Ken Grant told Liveroool Crown Court.
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After striking up a conversation with Costello, the woman said her son’s dog had died before the pair went their separate ways, the Liverpool Echo reported.
The mother and son were at home at around 6pm the same day when the latter was asleep on a sofa in the living room with his partner and their baby when the drunk and drugged intruder “suddenly entered the living room through the back door and jumped on top of the other male”. When he woke up he shouted: “What the f**k are you doing?”
But Costello put 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 unwanted guest then slapped the mother on the back and then accidentally kicked a swing the baby was being held in as she “stumbled” in. When attacked, the woman replied: “Don’t you dare do that to me.”
After being ordered to leave by the man’s girlfriend, Costello “became aggressive” and told her she was “irrelevant and could be replaced”. He was then physically removed from the venue and left.
A small amount of cocaine was found next to a rolled banknote during his arrest. Costello said during the interview that he had “entered the property to give his friend a male hug”, adding that “this was not unusual behaviour”.
He has 10 previous convictions for 18 offences including possession and supply of Class C drugs, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, criminal damage, drink driving and possession of cocaine. His last brush with the law was in 2020 when he was fined for obstructing police.
Defence barrister Simeon Evans told the court his client had been “self-medicating with excessive alcohol and occasional use of first-class drugs”, adding: “His state of intoxication at the time appears to be at the root of what happened. This is an unusual case.
“He went around showing sympathy to a man he thought was a friend. He was used to going in and out of that house.
“He behaved in a way that he intended to be light-hearted and brotherly. Clearly, it was not perceived that way. He knows very well that he cannot behave that way and that he must be considerate of those around him.”
“What he did was not done out of malice. It was a misguided attempt to show sympathy, at least initially, and then in his drunken state he realized he was not welcome.”
Costello, of Leicester Street, Whitecross, Warrington, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and possession of cocaine. Appearing in the dock wearing a grey suit and with a shaved head, Costello was given an 18-month community service order.
Sentencing, Judge Louise Brandon said: “I hope you understand what a serious impact your actions have had. It has caused him great fear and anxiety. He is now anxious about seeing you.
Costello interrupted at this point and said: “I am so sorry, your honour. I am sorry. I am ashamed, your honour. I am so sorry, your honour.”
The judge then continued: “I accept that you are remorseful in relation to the offences. You understand that your behaviour was inappropriate, even if well-intentioned.”
“The references suggest there is a different side to your character. You have some mental health issues. I’m told you are prepared to address them. There is work that can be done with you.”
Costello was also given a five-year restraining order, a thinking skills program, a 12-month mental health treatment requirement and a three-month alcohol abstinence requirement. He replied: “I know this is getting out of hand. If you give me an alcohol label, that’s what makes me a drug addict.”
“I would love one. You gave me the greatest gift. I mean it, thank you so much. Give me more if you can. I just made a mistake, that’s all.”
As Costello left the dock, he added: “I’m just a gentle giant. Thank you, judge. Wow. That was scary.”