A teenager who vented his anger by kicking cars and smashing windows each time his love life was in trouble was told by a court yesterday it was time he grew up.

When Myles Gotting pleaded guilty to six charges of criminal damage and a seventh count of disorderly behaviour, he was told by Harrogate magistrates he had been appearing before them for too many years.

Court chairman John Metcalfe said he had come across Gotting, 18, on numerous occasions in the youth court, but that this was his first time before an adult court.

Gotting was placed on probation for a year and ordered to do 60 hours of community work.

He must also pay £155 compensation.

Gotting, of King's Road, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, was also made subject to a two-year anti-social behaviour order, which bans him from being drunk in public and committing damage.

Caroline Midgley, prosecuting, said that in May, Gotting had abused police called to an incident in Lower Station Parade, where youths had congregated.

He was bailed, but on July 4, he damaged two cars and a computer shop in the King's Road and Grange Avenue area of the town.

Mrs Midgley said that on July 20, two more cars parked in Killinghall had been attacked. Two days later, Gotting threw a bike wheel through the window of a house in Craven Street, Harrogate.

In mitigation, Geoffrey Rogers said all the offences had taken place when Gotting had been drinking, and after problems with his girlfriend.