A man jailed for going on a drink-fuelled wrecking spree has had his prison sentence overturned.

Stuart Luke Robert Brown, 22, was said to have been “extremely drunk” when he left a trail of damage in his wake on April 2.

Carlisle Crown Court heard Brown had left the Butchers Arms in Maryport’s Crosby Street, at about 2am.

As he walked down the road, he damaged the window of Deb n Air hairdressers, before targeting the wing mirrors of two parked vehicles. He also damaged a residential property electric gate, and caused £542.76 worth of damage to a Kia Picanto.

The total value of Brown’s criminal conduct was said to be almost £900.

Having pleaded guilty to five criminal damage offences, Brown was handed an eight-week prison sentence by magistrates last week.

However, he lodged an appeal against the jail term which was heard at the crown court. Mr Recorder Searle, sitting with a magistrate, was told that Brown, of Arkleby, near Aspatria, had caused the damage during an “unexpired period of detention”.

He has been sent to young offenders’ institution in 2014, for 40 months, for offences of reckless arson and burglary with intent to cause unlawful damage, before being released on licence.

Brendan Burke, defending, told the court Brown worked on trawlers off the west coast. “He was sacked by his employer, because his employer does not want any employees who have been to prison,” said Mr Burke.

But the barrister confirmed: “The defendant’s mother has been in touch with the employer, who has said if this court is prepared to take a different view (to magistrates) then the job remains.”

Mr Burke added: “When he is not in drink, he is a reasoning and pacific character.”

Recorder Searle agreed that Brown had embarked on a “spree” after leaving the Butchers Arms.

He concluded: “Albeit these were nasty, unpleasant offences, the court is minded to say that you can be dealt with in an alternative way which does not involved custody.”

Neither a night-time curfew nor unpaid work was considered suitable due to Brown’s employment.

Instead, a £500 fine was imposed and Brown was also ordered to pay £897.76 compensation.