TROWBRIDGE painter and decorator Dominic Oldroyd was ordered to pay for a new door after he attacked a house with a three-foot table leg.

The 23-year-old, of Cheviot Close, pleaded guilty to criminal damage during the 4am attack which took place on August 21 after he had an argument with one of the tenants at the house on Seymour Road, Trowbridge.

Oldroyd appeared before Chippenham magistrates on Monday to face charges of criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon. The second charge was then dropped.

The court heard how a neighbour was awoken by the noise of a man, who she believed matched Mr Oldroyd’s description, shouting outside the house.

Keith Ballinger, for the prosecution, said: “The neighbour woke up after she heard shouting. She said she could see a man close to the property holding a long piece of wood which looked like a table leg and she heard it crack against the door.

“The man continued to shout and she went on to describe the police attending and arresting the man she had seen carry out the attack.”

Oldroyd, who has no previous convictions, was told to pay £582.94 to Selwood Housing, who own the property, toward the cost of fitting a new door. He also had to pay £85 in court costs.

The amount he has to pay out fell short of the £891.88 that Selwood Housing’s defence had wanted, which they argued would cover the cost of a £308 failed repair job as well as the cost of the new door.

A Selwood Housing spokesman said: “We work with Wiltshire Police to claim back the cost to damage of our homes so our tenants don’t have to pay for the vandalism or neglect carried out by a few people.”