A HAIRDRESSER went on a £20,000 wrecking spree at his employer's salon after he was told off at work.

Nineteen-year-old Nicky Cranston smashed stock, left fixtures and fittings strewn across the floor and ripped water heaters from the wall at McAuliffe's, a salon in Peterlee town centre, County Durham.

The incident, when the salon was closed on the night of Saturday, September 5, last year, resulted in the ceiling falling in at the Saver store below, in Yoden Way, causing a further £1,476 worth of damage.

Ros Scott Bell, prosecuting, told Durham Crown Court, said: "The salon manageress, Maria Arnell, arrived for work at 11am on the Monday morning to find police at the premises.

"Cranston should have also reported for work at the same time, but when Mrs Arnell rang him, he said he already knew about the damage because he had been into the salon earlier."

Miss Scott Bell said that when police spoke to Cranston he admitted calling at the premises after closing time, but claimed it was to find a sticking plaster as he cut his hand during a night out in the town centre.

But he later confessed to causing the damage, in a text message to Mrs Arnell, in which he said: "I have ruined everything. I am nothing - I realise that now."

Stuart Graham, for Cranston, said that although he had been reprimanded at work, "it was not a grudge or revenge attack".

"He was very drunk that night and was genuinely shocked when he realised what he had done."

Cranston, of Welland Close, Peterlee, admitted two charges of criminal damage.

Mr Graham described him as vulnerable, with difficulties in his family life, and said he was fearful of being jailed.

Judge Tony Lancaster told him: "I'm not sure what caused you to go into those premises that night, but there was some emotional difficulty which may have caused you to behave like an undisciplined child."

Judge Lancaster imposed a 30-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered Cranston to perform 150 hours of community work.

He also ordered him to pay £500 compensation to McAuliffe's and £250 to the Saver store.