Jessica Elizabeth Martin had drunk a bottle of vodka before she set about smashing up the Renault van after suspecting Dean Moran of cheating.

But the van belonged to her ex-partner's boss Sydney French and the matter ended in court this week when Martin admitted causing thousands of pounds in damage to the vehible.

Mark Kateley, prosecuting, told a court Martin had been in a relationship with Dean Moran for a couple of years and they had a small child.

"The relationship had taken a bit of a turn for the worse and she was accusing him of being unfaithful," said Mr Kateley.

"Matters came to a head when he received a call saying she had smashed his van up but it wasn't his van. It was the van he drove for work and belonged to Mr French.

"The van had dents in all the panels, all the windows and windscreen were smashed and all the lights and dashboard damaged. She did a very extensive destructive job on the vehicle."

Damage to the van was put at £3,800.

Twenty-two-year-old Martin, of Brassey Parade, Eastbourne, admitted criminal damage.

Andrew Whelpton, defending, said, "There is no dispute my client did smash the van up. Prior to the incident the couple had parted and on the evening in question, my client contacted him and while on the phone, another woman came on the line and started to talk to her.

"She thought he had found someone else or been two-timing her and on the spur of the moment drank a bottle of vodka and saw the van as the first target to get back at him.

"When she sobered up she was pretty sorry for what she had done."
Sentencing her to 80 hours' unpaid work, deputy district judge Adrian Turner, sitting at Eastbourne, said, "I hope this is a one-off and you never end up reacting in this way again."