A VANDAL has admitted punching a hanging plant in Knutsford while serving punishment for assaulting a woman.

Samuel Arrowsmith, 23, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty at Chester Magistrates Court to intending to destroy or damage the property at Meadow Drive on February 12, this year.

The defendant also admitted being in possession of a quantity of cannabis on the same day.

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Arrowsmith was given a community order to carry out unpaid work for 140 hours during the next 12 months.

He must also complete a programme of rehabilitation activity up to a maximum of 30 days, supervised by probation officers.

Magistrates ordered him to pay £85 costs and £95 victim surcharge when the case was heard on February 14.

The bench took his guilty plea into account when imposing a sentence and decided not to order a separate penalty for the drugs offence.

Arrowsmith admitted committing these two offences while breaching an earlier community order imposed on October 6, last year.

The defendant received this sentence for assaulting a woman in Altrincham on July 20, last year, and causing £20 worth of damage to a mirror she owned on the same day.

The previous community order was revoked and a new one imposed which will run until February 2023.

Arrowsmith must complete a further 140 hours unpaid work within the next year and adhere to supervised rehabilitation activity.

Magistrates gave him permission to pay the £180 court penalty at £40 per month starting next month.