A HOUSE party host smashed the car window of a guest as a reprisal after a row with a friend.

Durham Crown Court heard that the atmosphere soured during the evening and a couple left Gary Robson's home as tempers frayed.

David Crook, prosecuting, said the front window of the house was put out as they left, so Robson came out and a confrontation took place.

Mr Crook said during the altercation Robson ran round to the rear of the guests' parked Vauxhall Tigra and smashed the window with a brick.

Roger Moore, mitigating, said: "That window was broken. He was angry at seeing the window being smashed by a 'friend' so, on a tit-for-tat basis, he did what he did."

"He accepts it went too far," said Mr Moore, who added that repairing the house window cost his client £330.

Robson, 22, of George Avenue, Peterlee, County Durham, admitted causing criminal damage.

A formal not guilty verdict was recorded by Judge Tony Lancaster on a charge of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, stemming from the altercation, after the prosecution offered no evidence.

Judge Lancaster said: "In what appears to have been some drunken anger, and, as an act of revenge because your house window was broken, you committed this petty act, which was wholly unjustifiable."

He ordered Robson to repay the £190 cost of the car window repair, plus £70 costs.