AN elderly woman woken by shouting outside her home saw Joseph Morrison kick the back bumper of her car. Blackburn magistrates heard that a few moments later Morrison smashed a window in the woman's home.

Morrison, 23, of Taylor Close, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to criminal damage. He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £100 compensation and £69 costs.

Peter Wilde, prosecuting, said police had arrested Morrison nearby and he had admitted the offence straight away.

"The offence is aggravated by the fact that the victim was an elderly lady and a police officer who went to see her the following morning said she was still visibly shaken," said Mr Wilde.

Kevin Preston, defending, said Morrison had been out with a friend and had drunk far too much. "He has only a sketchy recollection of what went on," said Mr Preston.