A man who smashed up a car in a drunken haze has been fined and handed a community order.

Terry Short, 22, of Farm Road, Esher, pleaded guilty to criminal damage at Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, April 17.

The court heard Short caused £3,500 worth of damage to a Volkswagen Golf parked in Kew Road, at the Richmond junction with the A316, on March 31.

Prosecutor Francis Lockhart told the court Short was drunk when he was arrested after the incident, which he was hazy about.

Both wing mirrors were smashed and there were dents and scratches to the body work and to the roof.

Short, who is a groundsman at Sandown Park racecourse, had been drinking with friends at Oceana nightclub in Kingston before the incident and said he was extremely sorry for his actions.

He appeared for sentencing at the same court on Monday, April 29.

He was handed a 12-month community order to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and was ordered to pay £250 compensation, a £60 victim surcharge and £85 in costs.