Updated After returning a persistently faulty PC to a shop five times over three months, a Wisconsin man snapped and took it apart with a sledgehammer in front of shocked shoppers.

Gary Wilke (aka Mr. Sledgehammer), from Appleton, Wisconsin, bought the $2,600 Gateway PC for his daughter in January. During its short life, the PC had problems both with its hard drive, and its sound system.

After taking the computer to the shop in Appleton for a final time and smashing it to smithereens, the 51-year old bid staff and other customers good day before leaving, according to his own account. Staff at the Gateway Country store tell a different story. Wilke came out with a string of profanities as he pummelled his PC, they say.

In any case, Police from Grand Chute caught up with him and charged him with disorderly conduct.

But Mr. Sledgehammer is unrepentant.

He told local paper The Post-Crescent: "I wonder how many people are out there complaining and not getting service. It feels good in a way."

If you're tempted to do the same, or worse, check out our guide - 102 ways to kill your computer. ®

Thanks to Reg readers for helping us fill in the deatils to this story - including the make of the PC.

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