A thief who broke into a car outside a Bristol police station has walked out of court with a community order.

Ruddin Paul smashed a window and broke into the car of a community support officer parked outside Newfoundland Road police station in broad daylight.

The 42-year-old, of Lanercost Road, Southmead, was quickly caught and later pleaded guilty to a charge of theft.

He was given a 12-month community order with an 80-hour unpaid work requirement and ordered to pay £50 compensation to victim Jackie Harper.

James Haskell, prosecuting at Bristol Crown Court, said Mrs Harper, a community support officer at Newfoundland Road police station, had parked in the car park nearby at 7am on July 18 this year.

The court heard that there was the sound of breaking glass and a car alarm which Mrs Harper recognised as hers.

"She looked out to see a male running from the car park.

"A window in her car had been smashed and a mobile telephone hands-free ear piece and a cloth were taken.

"Witnesses had seen the male run from the car park and assisted police who arrested the defendant nearby. The items stolen were recovered undamaged," said Mr Haskell.

Timothy Hills, defending, said his client had offended because he was living in a hostel with people who took drugs and he started using too.

He added: "This offence was remarkably unsophisticated.

"Who else would go into the car park of a police station in broad daylight and make the noise of breaking into a car so all heads turn and see a man who is distinctively dressed go up the street?"

He said his client had now turned his life around and got a full-time job and a home.

Sentencing Paul, Judge Euan Ambrose told the courtroom: "On one view this was a relatively minor offence.

"It involved the breaking of a car window and the stealing of a hands-free ear piece and a cloth.

"The items were recovered a short while later.

"This type of offence causes distress and inconvenience to members of the public.

"Mitigation lies in the way you have turned your life around since the middle part of this year."