A SHILDON man who vented his frustration at not being let into a house by smashing its windows has appeared in court.

Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court heard today (Thursday, February 11) that Ikie Mackinlay visited a house in Shildon on January 25 to retrieve money he was owed by the occupier.

When there was no answer, Mackinlay threw a rock at the door as well as the kitchen window and an upstairs window, causing hundreds of pounds of damage.

The 23-year-old pleaded guilty to criminal damage and Nick Woodhouse, mitigating, said that “frustration had got the better of him” after he had visited the house on 25 previous occasions and been ignored.

The court heard that Mackinlay, of Thomas Street, already owed £1,546 to the court and District Judge Martin Walker deducted £395 from that amount and replaced it with a £500 compensation order.

He also imposed a one-year community order.