A BOOZED-UP thug who kicked the wing mirrors off four cars during a bar crawl with a friend then bit a police officer has been jailed for 28 days.

Richard McCarthy, 21, had taken a train to Swindon to meet up with his friend, but the pair downed Jack Daniel's whisky and beers during a late-night binge on April 5 this year.

They stumbled down Hunt Street at about 10.30pm, where McCarthy booted the wing mirrors off a Ford Transit van, a Honda Civic and two Peugeots.

After being arrested, he then sunk his teeth into the arm of a detention officer as he was being searched.

McCarthy failed to turn up to court on September 27 this year and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

He appeared at Swindon Magistrates Court today (Oct 16) via video link and admitted three counts of destroying/damaging property of an unknown value, one of criminal damage to property valued under £5000 and one of assaulting a desginated/accredited person.

Prosecutor Keith Ballinger said a witness heard residents shouting at the two men during their rampage.

"He had travelled to Swindon to meet up with a friend and had been drinking before the incident - some Jack Daniels and a couple of beers," said Mr Ballinger.

"He says personal issues mean he has been drinking a lot recently and went on a bit of a bar crawl with his friend.

"During a search, Mr McCarthy turned his head to the right and bit the arm of the detention officer."

McCarthy, of Brookcote Drive, Bristol, who hobbled into the video link room on crutches, said he couldn't remember damaging the cars but accepted it sounded like something he would have done.

"I can assure you it will never happen again," he told the magistrates.

"I'm speaking to my family again, I'm working again - I've got a job lined up as soon as I get out.

"I was very stupid and I'm sorry. I won't drink again - it doesn't agree with me."

McCarthy was convicted for a criminal damage charge in 2015 and has three previous convictions for offences against the person.

He was jailed for 28 days and ordered to pay £600 in compensation.