A MAN caused nearly £3,000 worth of damage to parked cars as he took a short cut home from a drinking session.

Blackburn magistrates heard two of the cars belonged to a man Nicholas Armstrong believed was responsible for an assault on him a number of weeks earlier.

But the third car was owned by a "totally innocent" victim.

Armstrong, 47, of Great Bolton Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to three charges of criminal damage and breaching a restraining order. He was sentenced to 10 weeks in prison.

Laura Peers, prosecuting, said the restraining order, imposed in December, prevented Armstrong from contacting his former partner or going onto the road where she lives.

"She is the step daughter of the owner of two of the cars and the damage was committed on her street," said Miss Peers.

"The incident was captured on CCTV and he was identified by his former partner's father."

Gareth Price, defending, said Armstrong was walking home after drinking with some friends and decided to take a short cut which put him in breach of the restraining order.

"He was assaulted some time ago and he believed that had something to do with the people who owned these cars," said Mr Price.

"In drink, and on the spur of the moment he committed the damage. The owner of one of the vehicles appears to be a totally innocent victim."