A MAN who spent nearly £40 trying to win a cuddly toy on an amusement arcade game punched the machine after failing to pick up a prize.

Nihad Hassan, 28, formerly of Derby Street in Weymouth, had been trying to win a toy for his daughter in the Aladdin's amusement arcade on the seafront on August 16.

But the toys fell through the grip in the grab-a-prize game and in frustration Hassan lashed out, smashing the glass and causing £100-worth of damage.

Hassan, who now lives in Hamilton Crescent in South Harrow, appeared before Blandford magistrates and admitted causing damage to the machine and then failing to appear at Weymouth Magistrates Court on August 24. The court heard he had been arrested for another matter - a public order offence - and had been kept in custody because of the outstanding warrant issued after he failed to attend the Weymouth court.

Simon Brimacombe, defending, said Hassan had moved from Harrow to Dorset to get away from personal difficulties there and while living in Weymouth had taken college courses in English and bricklaying to improve himself.

He said Hassan had gone to the arcade and apologised for causing the damage and that when he admitted he had not got the cash to pay compensation he had been told to go back in a few weeks when he did have the money. Hassan also claimed he had been told by a police officer that if he went to the arcade and paid for the damage the incident might not come court.

Magistrates decided to give Hassan a one-year conditional discharge, saying they had taken into account the time he had spent in custody.

No compensation was awarded and the magistrates said the amount requested was unclear and was not backed up with evidence - adding that Hassan, in any case, did not have the means to pay.