A VANDAL has been up before the courts after smashing a window at an Italian restaurant in a Herefordshire town.

Lewis Potter entered a guilty plea to one count of causing criminal damage to property valued under £5,000 when he appeared before magistrates in March.

The court heard from prosecutor Lauren Millichip that the 26-year-old, who was represented at the hearing by defence solicitor Andrew Cleal, had damaged a window belonging to a restaurant in Ledbury town centre on September 3.

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The damage to The Olive Tree restaurant's window had been intentional or reckless and had been caused without lawful excuse, magistrates in Hereford were told.

Potter, of Albert Road, Ledbury, was fined £138 and ordered to pay compensation of £50 to the restaurant, with magistrates saying that they had taken his guilty plea into account when coming to their decision on the penalty.

He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £135 and a £55 victim surcharge, which is used to help fund services supporting victims of crime.