THE alleged theft of his milk was the root cause of why an Isle of Wight man kicked and damaged security gates to a hostel for the homeless, a court was told. 

Riko Baber, of School Lane, Barton, Newport, appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court by video link from HMP Winchester on Friday.

The 34-year-old admitted causing £200 worth of criminal damage to private property, namely electronic gates, to the Two Saints Day Centre in Southampton, on August 11.

A charge of using threatening, abusive, insulting words and behaviour to cause harassment, alarm or distress at Asda supermarket, on St George's Way, Newport, on October 25, was dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Baber had kicked the gates, which caused damage to them and its mechanism, after he had been refused entry into the hostel due to "bad behaviour", said Liz Miller, prosecuting.

For Baber, Barry Arnett said his client suffers severe mental health problems, kicked the gates out of "frustration and upset" because he believed someone had stolen his milk.

Jobless Baber's actions were captured on CCTV.

Magistrates ordered Baber to pay £200 compensation, but was exempt from paying costs and a surcharge due to his financial means.