TWO men have walked free from a court after admitting smashing up 11 cars on a drunken rampage with a golf club.

Gary Bicker, 18, of Speldhurst Close, Stanhope, Ashford, and his friend, 23-year-old Wesley Simmons, who lives a few doors away, used the club to smash the cars’ windows at 2am last October 4.

Ashford magistrates heard they were both very drunk and could remember very little of the incident.

Reports on the pair had considered whether they should be sent to prison but magistrates imposed non-custodial sentences.

Simmons leapt into the arms of a female friend at the court to celebrate and rushed down the steps of the building shouting : “Yes!”

Bicker lit up a celebratory cigarette the moment he left the court building in Tufton Street after a sentencing hearing that lasted nearly two and a half hours.

They admitted a total of 17 charges between them relating to the damage of a Citroen Saxo, two Ford Mondeos, a BMW, three Nissans, a Citroen Berlingo British Gas van, a Renault Laguna and two Vauxhalls.

The total damage of the smashing spree was put at more than £2,300.

Magistrates sentenced Bicker to perform 200 hours’ unpaid community work and ordered him to pay compensation to the car owners totalling £435.

Simmons was given a two-year community punishment and rehabilitation order with 100 hours’ work. He was told to pay £825 in compensation.

Chairman of the bench Peter Goodwin told them: “This was an absolute nightmare for the people to live through. They had to clear up the mess and suffered from the damage you caused.

“If you waste this chance we are giving you we will consider a custodial sentence next time.”

When Terry Knox, defending, said Bicker, who is unemployed, claimed no benefits and was supported by his family, Mr Goodwin asked: “Are his family financing his drinking too, then?”

Mr Knox told the court the two no longer associated with each other.

Simmons was also dealt with for his third offence of driving while disqualified. He was given six points on his licence and no separate penalty for driving with no insurance.