A BITTER seven-year battle over child support and access came to a head when a man saw his ex and her family taking photographs of his liveried van.

Blackburn magistrates heard that John Alberts, 30, thought they were gathering evidence of his new business to hand to the Child Support Agency.

He confronted his ex-partner's 'father-in-law' and, when he got no response, launched a "Basil Fawlty" style attack on his car, . The court heard that Alberts worked his way round the car kicking door panels and breaking windows, causing an estimated £1,500 worth of damage

Alberts, of Emmott Lane, Colne, pleaded guilty to damaging the car. He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £1,500 compensation and £75 costs.

Roger Pickles, defending, said the incident was the culmination of seven years of harassment by Alberts' ex-partner.

Mr Pickles said that

He immediately went to Greenbank and handed himself in to the police before the crime had even been logged.