A 21-YEAR-OLD man broke into his estranged partner’s safe house stripped to his underpants and got into her bed.

Blackburn magistrates heard Scott Samuel Irvine had tracked his partner to the refuge after her new address was put on a non-molestation order.

But he claimed Rebecca Whalley had invited him in and denied entering the safe house through the only window that wasn’t screwed down.

Irvine, of Sycamore Avenue, Burnley, pleaded guilty to breaching a non-molestation order.

The case was adjourned for evidence to be called to establish the facts after District Judge James Clarke said the method of entry to the house would make a significant difference to sentence.

Mr Clarke said: “There is a huge difference between defence and prosecution and whether the defendant was invited in would make a material difference to sentence.”

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said Miss Whalley obtained the non-molestation order following an alleged assault on her. She also moved to a refuge address but this was revealed to Irvine on the court order.

She was so vulnerable that every window in the house was screwed shut except the upstairs bedroom.

On the evening of the incident she had three missed calls from him before going to bed. At 1.15am she woken by a noise and walked out of her bedroom to see Irvine walking down the landing towards her.

“He said he loved her and wanted to speak to her and see their son,” said Miss Allan.

“He was very drunk and took his clothes off before getting into her bed. When he fell asleep she ran to a neighbour’s house and called the police.”

Waseem Choudhray, defending, said his client had responded to a missed call from his former partner.

“She answered and he went over to see her,” said Mr Choudhray. “He denies forcing entry and says he was invited into the house through the door.”