PAINTER and decorator James Ball has been faced with a bill for more than £600 for smashing a window while on a night out with his mates.

Ball, 18, of Crookwood Farm, Stert, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to the shop window of M&J Bakery in Sidmouth Street, Devizes, on the night of September 6 last year.

Prosecuting, Anna Humphreys told Kennet magistrates on Tuesday that Ball was seen by a woman who knew him, rushing up to the window, turning his back to it and kicking out with his foot, breaking the window.

He overbalanced and fell into the window display, bringing down the rest of the glass. "He appeared quite shocked," said Ms Humphreys.

Initially, Ball claimed he had been pushed but later admitted he had kicked the window deliberately.

A compensation claim valued the window at £700, plus a charge of £117.50 for boarding it up while it was waiting to be replaced.

Defending, Paul Tritschler said Ball's actions were more reckless than deliberate. He had eight pints of lager to drink that night and wasn't entirely in control of his actions.

He said Ball, who was 17 at the time of the offence, had developed a more mature and positive outlook on things since establishing a relationship with his current girlfriend, who did not like him drinking to excess.

As there was a £500 excess on the owners' insurance policy, the bench ordered Ball to pay that sum plus the cost of boarding up by way of punishment. They also ordered him to pay £34 costs.