A MAN'S concern for his ex-partner landed him in court charged with damaging her front door with a garden gnome.

Blackburn magistrates heard that when William Hunter went to her Darwen home late at night and when he could not get a response, he smashed a glass panel with the ornament.

Hunter, 39, of Hawthorn Avenue, Darwen, pleaded guilty to criminal damage. He was granted a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £40 compensation for the window, £15 for the gnome and £80 costs.

Emma Kehoe, prosecuting, said the relationship between Hunter and Victoria Smalley broke down about three weeks before the incident.

Miss Smalley was in bed and woken by a noise. When she got onto the landing she saw Hunter inside the house. A passing police officer noticed the damage to the door and came to investigate.

Basharat Ditta, defending, said the couple lived together for four years but they grew apart and he left. On the day of the offence he received a message that Miss Smalley's nephew had been taken to hospital after a road traffic accident and he was concerned.

"He rang her and he rang the hospital and went round to her house," said Mr Ditta. "When he did not get a reply he smashed the window." Mr Ditta said there were no problems after that and the couple were having tea and talking when the police arrived.

"The custody sergeant was content to allow him to simply pay for the damage but there was a change of shift and the second sergeant said he had to be charged," added Mr Ditta.