A parking dispute led a man to cause more than £3,000 damage to a car which was blocking his route.

David Leavers, 46, lost his temper when he saw a T-registration Peugeot in his way and caused "extensive damage" to the vehicle, which belonged to his neighbour's girlfriend.

Colchester magistrates heard yesterday how Leavers had been drinking before the incident on October 25.

Leavers vandalised the car outside his house in Stockwell, Colchester, causing £3,081 damage. He admitted the charge of criminal damage.

Donald Oates, prosecuting, said: "It seems that due to the parking problems, when he saw this strange car he simply vandalised it."

Leavers had written a letter to his neighbour apologising for the damage, stating that had he known who the car belonged to, he would not have inflicted the damage.

Paul Roach, mitigating, said: "This parking problem has been an ongoing festering sore."

Magistrate Adrian Amos told Leavers he was lucky not to be going to prison.

Leavers was sentenced to a two-year community rehabilitation order, and must pay £55 costs. He was also ordered to pay his victim £200, to cover the difference in insuring the vehicle following the incident.

Published Thursday November 29, 2001