A 24-year-old man from Pembroke Dock who caused criminal damage to a front door after trying to find his girlfriend at a house party, has been given a large fine by Haverfordwest magistrates.

Steven Michael Richard Kokolin, of Cumby Terrace, pleaded guilty to the charge of criminal damage to property belonging to Simon Holt when he appeared in court on Tuesday morning.

Prosecutor Ellie Morgan said the incident occurred during the early hours of September 29, when Mr. Kokolin damaged double glazed glass in the front door of the property in Glenview Avenue in Pembroke Dock.

Miss Morgan explained that on the evening of September 28, Mr. Holt, the owner of the damaged property, went to bed shortly after 10 pm with his fiancee, only to be woken at around 3.40 am by his dog barking.

When he went down to see what was causing his dog to bark, he could hear loud banging on his front door caused by Mr. Kokolin, who was using expletives to demand that he opened the door.

Mr. Holt told his partner to call the police and he told Mr. Kokolin, who was not known to him, that they were on their way. He responded by shouting, "Next time I see you, I'll kick your head in."

The defendant banged the door so hard that eventually both panes of glass in the door smashed.

Police attended the scene and a neighbour identified who they believed to be the suspect.

Mr. Kokolin was arrested the following day on suspicion of criminal damage, and explained that he had been out drinking and had consumed a large quantity of alcohol, before being in contact with his on-off girlfriend and being invited to an address in Glenview Avenue, where she was said to be at a house party.

The defendant said that he didn't intentionally damage the door and had been reckless, but denied making any other threats towards Mr. Holt.

Mr. Kokolin's solicitor, Jonathan Webb, told magistrates that his client had mistakenly gone to the wrong house and was simply looking for his girlfriend and not mischief.

He said that his client, who worked as a welder for Valero, was of good character and had no previous convictions.

Mr. Webb went on to say that Mr. Kokolin believed that he wouldn't have used the foul language that he was accused of using, but as he was in an intoxicated state, he couldn't be 100 per cent certain.

Magistrates fined Mr. Kokolin £400 and ordered him to pay costs of £85 and a £15 victim surcharge. He was also ordered to pay £400 compensation for the damage that he caused.