AN argument with his girlfriend followed by ten hours of drinking led a Skipton man to take out his anger on several parked cars, heard magistrates.

Jamie Lee Halford, 22, had been drinking at the Skipton Fake Festival all day and was 'despondent' following a fall out with his girlfriend, the court heard on Friday.

At just after 11pm on July 26, he walked along the High Street. kicking the wing mirrors off cars and being abusive to people.

When warned by a police officer to moderate his language, he responded robustly, was arrested and taken to the police station.

Halford, of Western Road, who admitted five counts of criminal damage, was also in breach of an anti-social behaviour order (ASBO), the court heard.

In mitigation, Keith Blackwell said Halford was full of remorse and deeply ashamed at what he had done.

"He had a fall out with his girlfriend, he was despondent and had started to drink to drown his sorrows," said Mr Blackwell, who added he had a history of offending, and had spent time in prison.

He had been drinking all day and into the evening and when he had reached the High Street, he was very drunk.

"Unfortunately, he took his anger out on the car mirrors. He is thoroughly ashamed of himself."

The court heard Halford had kept himself out of trouble since being released from prison in February last year. The offences had been a 'blip' and he hoped to be reconciled with his girlfriend.

Halford was handed a 12 month community order with supervision and three month curfew to run Thursday to Sunday between 8pm and 7am. He was also ordered to pay compensation totalling £450, costs of £85 and victims surcharge of £60.