Sam Burvill, 22, lashed out at the front of Mark's Jewellery and Antiques in the High Street after losing his temper one evening.

He demolished the front window with a single blow — and has now been hit with a compensation bill of more than £1,600.

Prosecutor Mark Kateley told Lewes magistrates, "On Saturday August 30 a window was smashed at Mark's Antiques and Jewellers in Seaford High Street.

"Mr Burvill had been in the vicinity and there were cuts on his hands and his name was reported to the owner of the shop and police got involved.

"He was interviewed and admitted being at the location and he said he was very intoxicated.

"He could not really remember much about the incident, other than he had an argument with his brother-in-law, but accepted he had caused the damage to the window and some items in the window such as a figurine and a vase.

"A compensation claim has been made in the sum of £1,615.

"He does have some previous convictions but they are of a dissimilar nature to this."

Burvill, of South Coast Road, Peacehaven, admitted criminal damage when he appeared in court on Wednesday.

Representing himself, he declined the opportunity to offer any lengthy mitigation on his own behalf.

He said simply, "It was just a stupid moment."

Probation officers told the court however that he had confessed he was 'extremely embarrassed' about his behaviour.

The incident was said to have occurred when he went out drinking for the first time in a long while and as a result his alcohol tolerance was low.

He was said to have 'vented his anger' by punching the shop window following the bust-up with his brother-in-law.

Magistrates made Burvill the subject of a six-month community order with a condition that he carries out 40 hours of unpaid community work.

He was also ordered to pay the shop owner £1,615 in compensation to cover the cost of the damage he caused and a further £60 in court costs.