A TEENAGER has been ordered to pay a total of more than £4,600 after badly damaging two vans he tried to steal while he was drunk.

Ashley Barrell was so off his head in the early hours of August 23, he later had no recollection of breaking into Robertson Vehicle Hire’s yard, in Magdalen Street, Colchester.

Once inside the yard, he tried to hotwire two Ford Transit vans, but failed dismally on both occasions.

Colchester Magistrates’ Court heard his fingerprints were found in both, close to where the ignition wires ran.

Later the same night Barrell, 19, of Charles Pell Road, Colchester, had more luck at First Bus’s nearby Magdalen Street depot.

He managed to steal a bus from the depot and drive it two miles, with police in pursuit.

Barrell admitted aggravated vehicle taking and drink-driving in connection with this offence at an earlier hearing in September.

In that case, magistrates were told he had spent the last of his cash on some chips at the end of a boozy night out, then decided to get home by stealing a bus.

Barrell was seen weaving along the road, swerving on to pavements as he drove the bus at 20mph.

Police eventually stopped him using a “stinger” device to puncture the bus tyres in AvonWay, Greenstead.

During his attempts to break into the hire company’s vans, he caused £4,658 damage, the court heard.

Barrell – whose previous offences have seen him barred from every pub and club in Colchester – was ordered to pay full compensation to the van hire company.

Barrell’s lawyer, Denise Manning, said: “Unfortunately, on the day in question, he had consumed an excessive amount of alcohol and makes no attempt to justify his behaviour.

“The amount of alcohol was so much he is unable to recall the events clearly.

“He is ashamed and holds his hands up. His actions were foolish and has since learned from that.”

Bench chairman Jacqui Froggat told Barrell: “You were rather reckless on August 23 and it is coming back to bite you.

“You must pay back a vast amount of money – especially at a time you are starting work.”

Barrell was banned from driving for 18 months and was sent to a young offenders’ institution for four months at the earlier hearing.

He has since been released after serving half his sentence and the court decided not to impose an additional custodial sentence for damaging the vans.

They did, however impose an extra year’s driving ban, to add the year’s ban to the 18 months he was given for the bus offence. No order was made for costs.