A TEENAGER took his feelings out on a car after he learned his mother was dying.

Burnley magistrates heard how Nathan Macphail, 18, got up early in the morning and went to a friend's home to drown his sorrows after being given the news. He then damaged the vehicle, which cost £750 to put right.

Macphail, of Hillside, Burnley, admitted destroying or damaging property on June 21 and was told to pay £638.46 compensation, with £55 costs.

The court was told the defendant struck in St James St, Burnley, at 1.20pm. He caused damage to the electric wing mirror of the new car and two dents in the driver's door.

John Greenwood, defending, said the offence was totally out of character. Last year, Macphail's mother had been diagnosed with cancer and the evening before his father had returned from hospital at about 11pm and told the defendant his mother had just days to live.

She had been asleep for about three days and died two days later. On the night before the offence, Macphail went to bed in a very upset and emotional state and had two hours sleep.

The defendant got up at 6.30am and went to a friend's house to drown his sorrows. He had several cans of lager, was very drunk and for some reason he couldn't explain, but which couldn't be excused, he damaged the car.

The solicitor added when Macphail was arrested, his friend offered to pay for the damage to the car.