TEENAGEER Daniel Wood blamed his acts of vandalism in Pewsham on his addiction to alcohol, a court heard.

Wood, 18, of Redwing Avenue, Chippenham, pleaded guilty before Chippenham magistrates on Monday to two charges of criminal damage and one of theft.

Becky Abbott, prosecuting, said police were called to Escott Way, in Pewsham, on three separate occasions in the early hours of April 15 to respond to a resident's complaints about Wood's behaviour.

On the first occasion Wood threatened to kill the resident. Later officers returned when the resident's son was assaulted outside his home.

One the third occasion a wooden post was thrown through the resident's kitchen window, causing £64 damage, at around 1.30am.

Miss Abbott said PC Dave Hunt was called to the scene and realising the offender could not be far called in the police helicopter to help find him.

PC Hunt saw a man break cover from the bushes where he was hiding near the house. The officer chased him into Fox Croft Walk, where Wood was found hiding in a bush.

In an interview with the police, Wood admitted damaging the window and apologised for causing any trouble.

The next evening at 12.50pm Miss Abbott said a Pewsham resident noticed a gang of five youths milling around cars parked outside his house. He said one of the youths stood out because of his height and he then proceeded to describe the defendant.

The court heard the man went downstairs to confront the youths.

As he was walking towards the cars, Miss Abbott the man heard an almighty crash. She said he then saw Wood leaning through a smashed window on the passenger side of a small Fiat, gathering items into his arms.

Wood ran off, but he was later arrested in Chippenham and admitted that he had broken into the Fiat and stolen a soft toy and a tub of hair gel.

Miss Abbott said in his interview with police, Wood said: "I only get into trouble when I'm drinking. I feel guilty and I'm sorry for the trouble caused."

The court heard that Wood was already under a conditional discharge for assaulting a man in December 2002 who was on his way home from a night out in Chippenham.

John Elliott, defending, said alcohol had been a significant contributor to the offences, particularly in April.

"At the time he was keeping friends with a girl who was an alcoholic and he got drawn into drinking," he said. "On the occasion of the offence on April 15 he had drunk two bottles of wine and a bottle of vodka in four hours."

The court heard that Wood has since visited his doctor of his own volition.

As a result he has been referred to a psychiatrist and a counsellor in a bid to to help him deal his alcohol problems.

Sentencing was adjourned to June 10 to await a pre-sentence report.

PC Hunt said: "Over a period of a month Daniel Wood was a real nuisance in the Pewsham area. And on two nights running a police helicopter was used to track him after he committed offences.

"I believe alcohol has played a factor and he has made people's lives a misery, but it does seem that thanks to the involvements of his family his behaviour has stabilised somewhat."