Neil Rowley (41), of Church Road, admitted one charge of common assault and one charge of destroying property when he appeared at Mansfield Magistrates' Court on Thursday.

Magistrates gave Rowley an 18-month community order with supervision and ordered him to pay the court costs of £60.

Rowley was warned by magistrates that if he breached the order a custodial sentence would be almost certain.

PLEASLEY man Charles Houghton (22), of Chesterfield Road, who admits two charges of common assault, was given unconditional bail until 29th January by Mansfield magistrates on Thursday.

A MANSFIELD Woodhouse motorist who was caught drink-driving on New Year's Day has been banned from the roads for three years and hit with a £425 fine.

Ashley Allsopp (24), of Sandringham Road, was stopped by police on Station Road in Rainworth in the early hours of 1st January.

Mansfield magistrates were told on Friday that when he was stopped his eyes were glazed, he had slurred speech and smelled of alcohol.

Allsopp had been drinking in a pub to celebrate New Year's Eve and had not intended to drive – but made a 'foolish error of judgement' when his wife phoned him and asked to be picked up.

As he had been previously banned for drink driving in 2003, he was handed a three-year ban but was offered the chance to reduce that by nine months by completing a drink drivers' rehabilitation course.

He was fined £350 with a £15 victim surcharge and was ordered to pay £60 costs.

A BOOZY teenager who smashed the rear door of an unoccupied house in Shirebrook told police it was 'an act of sheer vandalism'.

Cheryl Cooper's semi-detached house in Brookfield Crescent was undergoing renovation when Carl Floyde broke the top pane with his fist and kicked a hole in the bottom panel.

Police found fingerprints and traces of blood on the door which identified Floyde (19) as the offender, Chesterfield magistrates were told last Wednesday.

Prosecutor Angela Hadfield said the door remained locked and access was not gained. Ms Cooper told police she did not know Floyde.

"He said he had been drinking heavily on nearby waste ground and it was an act of sheer vandalism," said Mrs Hadfield. "He cut his hand in the process and denied trying to get in to commit burglary."

Floyde, of East View, Langwith Junction, admitted causing damage on August 27th last year.

He was fined £81 and ordered to pay £500 compensation, with £60 costs, after presiding magistrate Tim Norton told him: "It's time you grew up, lad."

Floyde, who receives a disability living allowance, said: "It was just one of those things. I was drunk.

"It was by coincidence I was there. I walked down and saw a few people I know and I just did what I did. It was an old wooden door."

He added: "I regret it. I've sorted myself out now."