FRUSTRATION at the loss of a telephone charger landed a man with a £700 bill for damage to a car.

Darren Jones kicked and scratched his stepbrother's new car when he failed to hand the charger over, Swindon magistrates heard.

Prosecutor Lynne Henderson said Jones had gone to the house where he used to lodge to ask for the charger, but was told it was no longer there. As he walked away he was seen using his heel to dent the car door before kicking a wing mirror and taking out a key, which he dragged over the bonnet.

When arrested, he told police he was angry because he thought the charger might still be in the house.

Labourer Jones, 22, of Edington Close, Toothill, said he knew his stepbrother had bought a new car and had taken his frustration out on it. The owner claimed compensation of £700 to cover repairs.

Tony Novogrodski, defending, pointed out that the car was an F-reg Peugeot 309 and suggested that £700 would probably buy a replacement car of that age.

He said Jones had been going through a stressful period at the time of the offence.

His father had suffered a heart attack and his baby daughter had been in hospital.

Magistrates imposed a conditional discharge on Jones and ordered him to pay £700 compensation and £35 prosecution costs.