A MOTORIST frustrated at his broken down car smashed up his mechanic's £12,000 vehicle in a fit of rage.

Paul Griffith, 47, from Coronation Road, Newton Abbot, used a lump hammer to smash up the Vauxhall Corsa belonging to his friend, mechanic Lee Wotton.

He admitted criminal damage when he appeared before Torquay magistrates.

More than £3,000 damage was caused to the bonnet and side panels.

The court was told that Griffith had bought a £400 car from another vendor and with the help of Mr Wotton.

But when the head gasket blew, he took out his rage on the mechanic.

Prosecutor Ed Canning said that Griffith had sent a series of text messages to Mr Wotton trying to chase up the MoT certificate and work on the car.

He added: "One text said 'Laugh it off while you can'."

Then Griffith went to Mr Wotton's house and smashed up his car using a lump hammer he was carrying in his rucksack.

Mr Canning said: "A witness heard him say: 'That will do for starters'."

In mitigation, solicitor Richard Porritt said that Mr Wotton had agreed to fix the car, though the responsibility lay with the vendor.

He added: "Eventually, Mr Griffith reached the end of his tether and went around with the hammer and hit his car with it.

"He regrets it immensely. He did it out of sheer frustration and rage."

Magistrates adjourned sentence for further information about compensation.

Griffith was remanded on conditional bail until the next hearing on September 17.