A university professor must pay £28,000 compensation for scratching bizarre graffiti on cars while he was dressed in his underpants and a dress jacket.
City and society expert Stephen Graham had mixed alcohol with medication when he attacked 27 cars.
Judge Guy Whitburn at Newcastle Crown Court accepted his behaviour was totally out of character but said the compensation - the 48-year-old professor and his wife’s life savings - must be paid in full.
The judge suspended a nine month jail sentence for a year.
Graham scratched ‘polite’ graffiti into cars around his plush neighbourhood in Jesmond, Newcastle.
Prosecutor Stuart Michie told the court: “They all had similar words such as arbitrary, wrong and silly scratched onto them.
“The defendant said he had a vague memory of walking down the street in a dream-like state and damaging one or two cars by scratching words.
“He said he took a screwdriver from the kitchen. He said he had a problem with 4x4 vehicles, he thinks they are too large for a town.”
The court heard a total of 10 of the cars damaged were 4x4s, but the first vehicle targeted was a small Audi.
Mr Michie said Graham was “very remorseful and apologetic” during police interview and admitted he had downed three quarters of a bottle of gin as well as antibiotic and anti-depressant medication.
Judge Guy Whiturn QC said: “He was not wearing trousers, only underpants. He was bare chested under his dress jacket.”
Graham pleaded guilty to four charges of damaging property at an earlier hearing.
The four charges related to a Volvo, an Audi, a Mercedes and a Mitsubishi.
Today he asked for 23 similar offences to be taken into consideration.
The judge hoped the professor would not lose his job, but said he had no influence on what happened.
A Newcastle University spokesman said: "Following today's court appearance of Professor Stephen Graham, we will be considering the matter through normal university procedures.
"We are unable to comment further on an individual employee."
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