A TROUBLED teenage girl appeared in court yesterday charged with damaging property in her new home.

The 16-year-old admitted that an alcohol problem had affected her behaviour and led her to damage a window frame and television.

The girl, who lives near Darlington, also admitted using abusive behaviour towards people.

Darlington Youth Court heard that the girl - who cannot be named for legal reasons - had a troubled history and offended consistently during one period in her life.

David Bryson, prosecuting, said the incidents had taken place over the course of a week in September.

"On September 9, she appeared to have been drinking and caused trouble by repeatedly opening and closing one of the windows, causing damage to the body of the window," he said.

"Three days later, there was some sort of trouble which caused her repeatedly to press one of the switches on the television and doing that caused damage to the switch. Then, on September 16, she had been out and returned home after drinking, and had an alcohol bottle with her. She was abusive to others."

Claire Brinton, mitigating, said the girl was slowly overcoming her difficult past.

"She is attending appointments with the substance misuse team about her drinking, which seems to be the problem that is bringing her back to court," she said.

Magistrate John Robinson gave the girl a year-long conditional discharge, telling her: "It is good you have now decided 'I'm swapping, I'm changing' and you are sticking to the rules."