A Watford man has dodged jail after he admitted trying car door handles in the early hours of the morning.

Officers were called to reports of a man interfering with parked cars in Tucker Street, Watford, at around 4.15am on Friday, June 21.

Miqdad Hassanali, of Kensington Avenue, was arrested and appeared at Hatfield Magistrates' Court on Thursday, June 27, charged with two counts of vehicle interference.

The 31-year-old admitted trying the doors of a Lexus IS300 and Toyota Yaris and was sentenced at St Albans Magistrates’ Court on Monday (July 1).

He was handed an 18-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months and ordered to pay a £239 fine.

Also in court:

An arrest warrant has been released for Bushey man Dean Joseph after he absconded from St Albans Magistrates' Court on June 27.

The 48-year-old, of Vega Road, was due to be sentenced after he admitted various offences, including trespassing in the Market Street Travelodge with intent to steal on February 7 and having a hacksaw in Hempstead Road, Watford, on February 20.

Joseph is now wanted by police for “absconding from court having surrendered into the custody of the court,” according to the court files.