CHEF Alan Rankin smashed the windows of a restaurant where he used to work after the owner refused to pay his wages following his sacking.

Harrogate magistrates heard how Rankin, 31, armed himself with six bricks and threw one through each of the ground-floor windows of the Brio restaurant, in the city's Commercial Street.

Michael Hammond, prosecuting, said the windows were made from toughened plate glass and each was graphically designed. The vandalism left the restaurant owner with a bill for £7,397.

Rankin, of St John's Drive, Harrogate, pleaded guilty to destroying the windows.

The chef had suffered a cut - not inflicted at work - which required five stitches and felt he could not do his job using one hand, magistrates were told.

But restaurant owner Gianni Barnardi told Rankin he was expected on duty the next day. When he failed to turn in he was sacked without wages owing to him.

Rankin's request for his wages was met with the comment: "Get out before I hit you with a stick".

Hours later Rankin went out to "drown his sorrows" and then went to the restaurant where he took out his frustration on the windows.

Rankin was ordered to do 60 hours of unpaid community work and pay costs of £70 and compensation of £2,000.