A "BROODING" jilted boyfriend left a £1,300 trail of damage when he turned up at his ex-girlfriend's home and tried to hit her.

Father-of-two, Stuart Derek Clarke, 25, was locked inside the house, wrecked a computer system and damaged three doors, Burnley magistrates heard.

Clarke, of Brunshaw Avenue, Burnley, was given 80 hours community service and must pay £700 compensation. He admitted destroying or damaging property and breach of probation.

Christiana Buchanan, prosecuting, said Clarke went round to his former partner's home around 11.30pm. She didn't want to speak to him and the defendant tried to hit her. The girl went into the living room with her brother, decided to close the door on Clarke, but he kicked at it, splitting it. The ex-girlfriend and her brother left, locking the defendant in the house, and he then smashed a computer system. When Clarke was interviewed by police, he said he couldn't remember much about what happened and afterwards had a bottle of Bacardi and drugs.

Trevor Grice, defending, said there was no excuse for committing such offences and there was no explanation. Clarke had a trouble background. His father's death had had a drastic effect upon him and he had begun suffering depression. Clarke had tried to end his life and in a confrontational situation he would lose control. He would drink heavily and take medication.

Clarke's former girlfriend, a "young girl" had ended their relationship and he had been brooding upon it.

He took drink and sleeping tablets, went round to the house and committed the offence. He had little recollection of it.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.