A MAN who caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to a police car after he stamped on its roof has been sentenced.

A court heard how Connor Davison was on a night out in Kendal town centre when he climbed on top of a police car while officers were attending an incident.

The 24-year-old walked up on to the roof and stamped down on the car's light bar - an action that left him with a hefty bill.

South Cumbria Magistrates' Court was told it was a 'difficult' time for police, amid riots nationally.

Prosecutor Peter Kelly described the incident, which happened on the night of August 11 near the Birdcage.

He said officers had been at the scene to arrest another person and had briefly left the vehicle unattended.

But officers ran back towards when Davison climbed onto the bonnet, then onto the roof and started stamping down, he said.

He then ran away and was pursued by several officers on foot, who caught up with him near the British Heart Foundation Shop and arrested him.

Mr Kelly said the incident happened at a testing time for police but Davison was not motivated by hatred of the police.

"It was during a time of unrest nationally," he said.

"There doesn't appear to be any evidence that he was motivated in that way.

"It appears this was simply drunken behaviour in the circumstances.

"There was no disorder taking place in Kendal, this was simply a coincidence."

Mr Kelly said Cumbria Police had been quoted £2,064 for repairs.

In mitigation, Andy Gallagher told the court Davison had been due to move away and had a final night out with a friend in Kendal.

"He accepts that he drank too much, " Mr Gallagher said.

"He acknowledges there was no issue with the police. He struggles to explain his actions. He simply wasn't thinking."

After he admitted criminal damage, Davison, of Ireby, near Kirkby Lonsdale, was fined £364 and ordered to pay compensation to Cumbria Police to pay for the repairs.