A MAN who hurled a beer glass at a £1,000 plasma TV screen in a Darlington bar was jailed for eight weeks yesterday.

Jon William Soley, of Locomotive Street, Darlington, was barred from the Shuttle and Loom, in Whinfield Road, but went to the pub on March 3 to watch a football match.

But the landlord spotted him at 11.30pm and asked him to leave.

Soley, who had been drinking heavily, refused and then threw a pint glass against the wall.

The glass smashed and ruined the bar's widescreen television.

The unemployed 26-year-old pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal damage at Darlington Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Magistrates heard that Soley had been subject to a two-year suspended sentence - for drink-driving, aggravated vehicle taking and assault - when he carried out the attack.

But Graham Hunsley, mitigating, asked magistrates to give him a lenient sentence, so he could build a future for himself by starting a college course.

"He knows full well that this conduct was unacceptable, but when in drink, he can be a different person", he said.

"Drink is the biggest problem for him and he's trying to deal with that.

"He plans to do a college course.

"If he is going to make anything of his life and avoid offending, then he needs that.

"If he goes into custody, when he comes out again he is going to have to start again by pulling himself back up the ladder, sorting out new accommodation, finding work or starting a new college course.

"These are not the easiest circumstances with which to deal with a drink problem.

"I would suggest that society would benefit more by keeping him at liberty.

"I would urge you to consider making an exception in this case, no matter how lenient it may appear to be."

Soley served a four-month prison term in 2004 for offences including stealing cars.

In May last year, he was back in court again, but magistrates gave him a second chance by giving him a suspended sentence with community service.

However, yesterday magistrates decided to send Soley back to jail.

He was also ordered to pay £400 in compensation to the Shuttle and Loom pub.