A green activist has been fined after damaging doors at a communal house in Kingston.

Des Kay, 63, the founder of the Save the World Club charity, damaged the lock area of two fire doors at the Crescent Road Community last December.

Kay said after a trial at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday he had been upset by a dispute with other residents over living arrangements, which came at the time of a family bereavement.

He said: “One of my sisters had passed away and it was her funeral the next day. I did not tidy it up there and then because I had other things on my mind - it was two days later.”

He felt magistrates sympathised with his situation “to a degree”, he added. He is considering an appeal.

Kay was fined £150 and ordered to pay a £20 surcharge plus £100 costs.