SPURNED boyfriend Shane Williams damaged the front door of his ex-girlfriend's house and threw bricks through her windows.

Blackburn magistrates were told this week that he left before police arrived but returned later on, when the council joiner was present, walked into the house and slapped Dianne Golden twice across the face.

Williams, 26, of Whitebirk Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to damaging the property and a mobile phone and assault. He was made subject to a community rehabilitation order for 12 months with a condition that he attends the domestic violence programme and ordered to pay £50 compensation to Dianne Golden.

Elliott Taylforth, defending, said the incident had started as a simple argument but had escalated from there. He said the offences were directly linked to Williams' substance abuse.

"He accepts that he can't hide from his problems any longer and he needs some supervision," added Mr Taylforth.