A 30-YEAR-OLD Blackburn man went on a £5,000 wrecking spree after a row with his girlfriend.

Blackburn magistrates heard Joseph Smith used a hammer to smash every window in her house before turning his attention to pictures, furniture and fittings.

Smith, of Stonyhurst Road, pleaded guilty to criminal damage to property including 16 double glazed UPVC windows, belonging to Emma Mitchell.

He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report with conditions he does not contact Miss Mitchell or go within 500 metres of her home in Douglas Place.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said the couple had argued and Miss Mitchell had gone out with friends.

When she returned to her mother’s she found an abusive message on her phone saying Smith had “smashed up” her house.

“She went to her home and found all the windows had been smashed and extensive damage caused inside the property,” said Miss Allan.

“A neighbour had seen the defendant going round with a hammer causing the damage.”

Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said there had been an argument and Smith had initially gone round to build bridges.