A MAN who caused damage to his grandmother's home has been ordered to pay her compensation.

Kyle Connolly, of Dinsdale Crescent, Darlington, pleaded guilty to criminal damage at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court yesterday.

The court heard how the 26-year-old was at his grandmother's address in Newton Aycliffe when a row broke out on February 20.

Lesley Burgess, prosecuting, said Connolly became "agitated" after accusing his grandmother of "cheating him out of money" as his benefits were paid into her account.

Connolly then lost his temper and "lashed out" at the TV causing the screen to smash and pulled the telephone out of its socket.

He also admitted smashing a table lamp off a wall and damaging a pane of glass in her back door window.

Ms Burgess said Connolly left the council house and phoned the ambulance service saying he was thinking of harming himself. He was then arrested.

Stephen Hamill, mitigating, said his client was a "troubled young man" who had a range of mental health issues and had gone "a bit stir crazy" after drinking alcohol.

Magistrates gave Connolly a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay £210 in compensation. They also approved an application for a restraining order for his grandmother.