A DARLINGTON man has been tagged after smashing a car window to snatch handbags while subject to a conditional discharge.

David Anthony Boyce, of Oxford Street, broke into the parked vehicle on Wooller Street and stole the bags valued at £70 on August 10.

The 48-year-old was found by police on 50 yards away near to the bags. On August 7 Boyce was captured on CCTV at 4.50am attempting to get into three cars parked on Staindrop Crescent.

Tom Morgan, mitigating, said Boyce suffered from post traumatic stress disorder while a probation officer added he was capable of staying out of trouble.

At Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court yesterday (August 17), he pleaded guilty to theft from a motor vehicle, three counts of interfering with cars and breaching a conditional discharge issued for burglary with intent to steal.

The defendant was sentenced to a two-month curfew from 7pm to 7am and was ordered to pay compensation of £120 for the broken car window.