TWO friends who went on a drunken rampage of destruction after one was disappointed at a lack of fuss over his birthday have been spared jail.

Richard Addison and James Anthony Johnson caused more than £2,600 worth of damage during a vandalism spree which included hurling a microwave through a car windshield in their hometown of Shildon on January 21, magistrates in Newton Aycliffe heard.

Addison 20, and Johnson, 19, who live a few doors apart on Station Street, left 18 victims in their wake, and were back at court today (February 14) for sentencing after a previous appearance.

The pair also smashed windows at the town’s Spiritual Church and Jarrett Community Centre as well as targeting car windshields.

The court has previously heard that the pair were drunk and Addison had been in a bad mood on the day as his family had not made a fuss over his birthday.

They were accompanied by a dog called Tara and used a metal dog lead to cause the damage as well as the microwave and the plug off a deep fat fryer they had been given only a few hours before.

Both pleaded guilty to seven joint charges of causing criminal damage and asked for another 11 offences to be taken into consideration.

Johnson had previously apologised to the court.

Each was sentenced to six weeks in jail suspended for 12 months and given a three month curfew form 7pm to 7am.

They must also each pay £1,308.62 compensation.