A HEAVY drinker admitted causing over £1,400 of damage to a coach, but said he could not remember doing it.

Scarborough magistrates heard that Ian Cullen, 26, from Darlington, was drinking up to one-and-a-half bottles of vodka a day at the time of the offence.

Cullen, of Helmsley Moor Way, Firthmoor, Darlington, admitted damaging the 51-seat coach, which had come from Loughborough and was parked overnight in Scarborough.

Rosie McIlroy, prosecuting, said the driver returned to the coach the next morning and found the windscreen had a large crack, the passenger door was scratched and there was blood on the inside of a window.

The blood was traced to Cullen through DNA testing.

Franklyn Garvey, for Cullen, said at the time he was drinking heavily and had no recollection of the incident.

He had parted company with his girlfriend last year and was sleeping rough at the time, but during a period in prison he had sought help and was now back with his girlfriend and two children.

"He is concerned he does not want to return to the old ways," said Mr Garvey.

Magistrates gave Cullen a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered him to pay £500 compensation to the coach company and £55 costs.