LEE Cottam claimed he had smashed the window of a parked car because he thought it belonged to a man who owed him money.

Cottam, 24, of Roebuck Close, Blackburn, pleaded guilty before Blackburn Magistrates to criminal damage and theft of a bottle of vodka from Aldi. He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £100 compensation and £40 costs.

Silvia Dacre, prosecuting, said Carol Perkins had parked her car outside work and around lunch-time was told someone was trying to break into the vehicle.

She went out to find the driver's window smashed and saw Cottam walking away.

When Cottam was arrested shortly afterwards, the bottle of vodka was concealed down his trousers.

Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said that three months before the offence someone known to Cottam had thrown a brick through the window of his home.

He had confronted the man and an agreement had been reached to pay compensation for the damage.

"The money was not paid and when he saw this car, which he believed belonged to this person, he broke the window by way of revenge," said Mr Church-Taylor.

He said Cottam had recently completed the redecoration of his flat and was due to receive a payment of £100 for doing so.

He would pledge to pay that to the court by way of compensation as soon as it was received.