A MAN who ran across the roofs of parked cars in a Worcester street caused more than £2,000 damage, magistrates heard.

Sam Flecknell, aged 20, had been drinking with friends in the early hours of the morning in March when they decided to run on top of a row of parked cars.

Prosecuting at Worcester Magistrates Court, Gemma Goode said police officers received calls about a group of young men who were causing trouble along the Malvern Road on Sunday, March 2.

When they went to investigate they saw a number of cars along the street had dents on their bonnets.

"There was also a clear footprint on one of the cars," added Miss Goode.

Police later found a group of youths who fitted the description, and Flecknell, of Westlea Close, off the Bromyard Road, along with another man was arrested and taken to the police station. Cars damaged included a blue Yarris, which had a dent on the roof costing £593.37 and a Renault Clio with a dent to the bonnet which cost £500 to repair.

Miss Goode also asked for damages to other cars to be taken into consideration by magistrates, along with the two charges of criminal damage which Flecknell admitted.

These cars were a Peugeot with damage costing £212, a Ford with damage of £759.78 and a Chevrolet which needed £500 of repairs.

When questioned Flecknell, who is unemployed, said he had been drinking with friends at the Bell pub, St John's, to celebrate a birthday and initially denied causing the damage, until it was revealed the footprint imprint had been lifted from the scene In mitigation, Emma Smith said Flecknell had consumed a "considerable" amount of alcohol and they were on their way to the 24-hour garage.

She said Flecknell had entered his guilty plea early and was of previous good character.

She added: "He is looking to obtain work through the local job agencies."

Chairman of the magistrates, Sue Jones gave Flecknell a 15-month conditional discharge for the two counts of criminal damage. He was ordered to pay compensation of £2,565.15 and £30 costs.