A DRUNK damaged a delivery man’s vehicle and then stole the magazines he had just dropped off, a court heard.

Southampton Magistrates’ Court heard how Joby Cooper approached self-employed delivery driver Deepak Sharma as he was unloading magazines on August 15 just after midnight outside the Sainsbury’s store in Lordshill, Southampton.

Cooper offered to help bring out boxes and although Mr Sharma refused Cooper, who he could smell had been drinking, insisted.

He asked for money and when Mr Sharma had got in his vehicle to leave Cooper, 23, stood with his hands on the bonnet to stop him, asking for money again, the court heard.

Mr Sharma took the opportunity when he moved to the side to drive away, but as he did so Cooper kicked the front wheel and punched the wing mirror, causing £178 damage.

At his next delivery at a garage, he noticed Cooper kick the boxes outside Sainsbury’s, open them and start putting magazines in a carrier bag and walk away.

Mr Sharma, who called police, told him they were not his, but Cooper made threats saying “don’t stop me, next time I’ll smash your face in” and refused to return them – police then arrived.

Reading from the victim’s statement, Louise Holmes, prosecuting, said: “It left me feeling scared and anxious about making my deliveries.

“I was only trying to do my job and I didn’t deserve this to happen.”

Cooper, of Hillyfields, Nursling, admitted criminal damage and theft.

The court heard how the father-of-one had off and on work as a groundworker and collecting scrap but when not working, with time on his hands, had been drinking heavily, as he did that day, and does not remember much of what happened.

Cooper told the court: “Drink is no excuse, I’m really sorry to him for doing that.”

Magistrates ordered him to pay fines and costs of £563.