FORMER soldier Tristian Binney went off on a short fuse when he went looking for a man he believed had made threats towards him.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Binney gave Andrew Aspin 20 seconds to open his front door but before he had counted to ten he kicked the door, causing £30 worth of damage.

Binney, 25, of Bolton Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to criminal damage.

He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £30 compensation and £55 costs.

Robin Phoenix, defending, said Binney accepted that he had gone looking for a man who had made certain threats against him.

He said Binney had served in Bosnia but had been discharged from the army after he began suffering from depression following the cot death of his six month old child.

"He had a rough time in the past, but, to a degree, he has managed to get his life back on track," said Mr Phoenix.