A man who caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage to neighbours' cars after a row with his parents has been convicted of criminal damage.

Michael Tkaczyk snapped wing mirrors and kicked the bodywork of vehicles parked close to his home in Old Town in a drunken rage.

The 18-year-old, who had lost count of the amount of spirits he had drunk at a friend's birthday, lashed out following a series of rows with his parents.

Now the part-time shoe seller has been ordered to pay compensation to the owners of cars damaged in the night time rampage.

Keith Ballinger, prosecuting, told magistrates that shortly before 3am on August 6 a resident of Goddard Avenue heard noises in the street and looked out of the window.

He said he spotted a youth appearing to kick at a parked Ford Mondeo and moving towards a Galaxy.

When he caught up with the youth he demanded "What do you think you're doing?" to which he replied "Just get me done, I don't care, I'm depressed."

Mr Ballinger said that the resident recognised Tkaczyk as a teenager who lived nearby and another neighbour came outside saying his wife had called the police.

When he was questioned by police Tkaczyk told them that he had been to a nightclub to celebrate a friend's birthday and could not remember how many spirits he had drunk.

He said that he had gone home and had an argument with his mother so he took out his frustration on parked cars swinging his arms into wing mirrors and kicking out with his feet.

Tkaczyk, of Goddard Avenue, Old Town, pleaded guilty to four counts of criminal damage and asked for four further matters to be taken into consideration.

Lee Mott, defending, said his client was sorry and realised he had to compensate the victims.

He said the row with his parents had been brewing for some time and they had argued before he went out and when he came home.

He said as a result of the incident the family situation is improving and, though his client only worked part-time at a shoe shop, he had savings so could pay the compensation.

Magistrates sentenced him to a compensation order, telling him to pay £900 to repair the damage caused and £34 towards the costs of the case.

Officers went from house to house to inform victims of the damage to about eight cars.

Goddard Avenue resident Sylvia Pilot, 66, a retired laboratory technician, was in bed when the police came to tell her her car's wing mirror had been damaged.

She said: "I'm very glad this young man has been caught and I hope it turns him into a better person."

Another resident, who asked not to be named, said: "We all want to know who it was who caught this young man because we want to congratulate him.

"I'm glad the vandal was caught. I hope he has learned his lesson and will become a good citizen."

Another woman who also asked not to be named said: "I'm just glad the person who did it was caught. There is no excuse for damaging other people's property."

Barrie Hudson