A MAN stormed round to the flat above his home brandishing a hammer because he was upset by the noise made by the new tenant laying a floor.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Robin Edward Mayer, 68, smashed his way into the flat with the lump hammer before attacking female neighbour Samira Ali and a worker with the tool.

He then smashed furniture, a television and other electrical items before he was eventually overpowered, the court was told.

Mayer, 68, formerly of Stonyhurst Close, Blackburn, now living at the Salvation Army Hostel, Bramwell House, Heaton Street, pleaded guilty to assaulting Samira Ali and Ahklaq Ahmed, damaging property belonging to Samira Ali and using violence to secure entry to premises.

He was remanded on bail until April 24 after the magistrates ordered pre-sentence reports.

Claire Fanning, prosecuting, said Miss Ali had only been staying at the flat two or three nights a week. She had decorators coming in and a friend had been coming over help lay new floors.

"At 6.30 pm on March 11 Mayer became so angry he took a lump hammer, ran upstairs and smashed the kitchen windows and the door windows," said Miss Fanning.

Mr Ahmed challenged Mayer and was hit on the elbow and Miss Ali was also struck, she said. Clare Knight, defending, said Mayer had been living in the sheltered accommodation for six years and had previously complained about younger people being placed in the flat above.

Miss Ali had only moved in in January but she had not explained what work she was having done, he said.

"On the day of the offence they were laying laminate flooring and making a lot of noise and he snapped," said Mrs Knight.

"This was not pre-meditated as is shown by his attire. He was wearing his long-johns and only one shoe.

"He was reckless in his actions and in the course of waving the hammer he actually hit himself on the head and leg."