A MAN who smashed a pub window in Watchet and then missed a court date following the crime avoided jail when he appeared in court on Friday.

Carl Perkins, 27, formerly of Minehead but now living in Patchway, Bristol, admitted breaking a window at the West Somerset Hotel on September 15.

West Somerset Magistrates in Minehead heard the pub's owner was alerted at 1am by a loud bang, followed by the sound of a window being smashed.

The owner recognised Perkins when he saw him running away. When Perkins was arrested shortly afterwards, he admitted the offence and offered to pay for the damage.

The court heard the offence put Perkins in breach of a community order given last year for offences of handling stolen goods and false accounting.

But having appeared in court on September 28, Perkins failed to reappear when the case was adjourned to October 12.

Perkins had also breached his community order by missing an appointment with the Probation Service and failing to notify them of his new address, the court heard.

Ian Denley, defending, said Perkins had largely complied with the terms of the order, which included an education training programme and the Probation Service's Think First skills scheme.

Mr Denley said: "The order imposed has by and large worked very well.

"Mr Perkins recognises that his actions were unacceptable and antisocial.

"He didn't realise he had to reappear in court on October 12 but he really should have made enquiries."

Perkins had his community order revoked and replaced with a one-year conditional discharge.

He was also ordered to pay £60 costs and £60 compensation to the West Somerset Hotel.