HOMELESS and wanting a bed for the night, a Chard teenager started shouting outside his ex girlfriend’s house waking residents from their sleep and then karate-kicked a wing mirror off a car.

Jordan James said he was coming down from a drugs binge at the time, had a cut forehead after falling over and was sobbing in the street.

After he damaged the car several witnesses went outside and restrained him until the police arrived.

James, 18, of Brian Mooney Close, appeared in the dock before Somerset Magistrates at Yeovil and pleaded guilty to destroying a car wing mirror belonging to Anthony Parkinson at Chard on August 21.

Emma Lenanton, prosecuting, said that a couple living in Brian Mooney Close were woken at 1am by the sound of shouting outside and recognised the defendant’s voice.

“The male looked out of the window and saw James shouting at the top of his voice and he then karate-kicked a silver estate car which belonged to Mr Parkinson,” she said.

“The police were called and the witnesses went out into the street and restrained James until officers arrived.

“The defendant was visibly upset and sobbing and had a fresh cut to his forehead after he had tripped and fallen.”

During interview the defendant admitted damaging the wing mirror and said he was coming down off drugs at the time of the offence.

He said he had already given the victim £50 towards the damage, although no evidence of that was provided to the court.

Defending solicitor Ray Peters said that James admitted his guilt to police at the time of his arrest and said he had been homeless for several weeks leading up to the incident.

“He was attempting to contact his former girlfriend and it was outside her address that this matter took place,” he said.

“He wanted a bed for the night and accepted he was feeling unwell after having taken some drugs the previous evening at a party.

“When he was approached he was very upset and emotional, but it was not a targeted attack and he just lashed out.”

He said that James was currently unemployed and was also struggling with mental health problems.

The magistrates imposed a 12 month conditional discharge on the defendant and ordered him to pay £75 compensation to Mr Parkinson but did not request a victim surcharge or any costs.