A YOUNG dad vandalised his former partner's car in frustration because he could not see his son.

Burnley Magistrates heard how James Gorton, 25, drove past his ex-girlfriend's home to try and catch a glimpse of the five-year-old boy he has seen only a handful of times and with whom he had never had contact.

His solicitor told how the defendant had battled in the courts to see the child but had been "thwarted at every turn" by the boy's mother.

Gorton, of Parkinson Street, Burnley, admitted criminal damage and breach of the peace. He was given a 12 months conditional discharge, with £55 costs, told to pay £100 compensation and bound over in the sum of £100 for 12 months. An allegation of harassment was dismissed.

Tom Snape, prosecuting, said the defendant's former partner had been at Do It All in Burnley with her family. As she drove away, Gorton followed her in a car.

In July, he had driven past her home and stared at her and then drove past her mother's home while she was there.

Two days later, she was made aware the defendant was outside her home and contacted the police as she was tired of him hanging around. Gorton then drove past her home four times and on the last occasion hung out of the passenger door, reached out towards her vehicle and laughed.

Gorton's ex-partner then found a four-foot scratch on the car door which had not been there before.

Steven Banks, defending, said Gorton had tried to get access to his son but had seen the boy on five occasions over the past five years and was in despair.

Mr Banks said: "The defendant feels the courts have let him down. He committed the criminal damage in frustration and anger".