A WOMAN was left terrified after she stopped to answer a call on her mobile and a man ran over to her car and smashed the driver's side window with a metal bar.

Blackburn magistrates heard Christopher James Ashworth had become "paranoid" about people parking in the space outside his home and reacted badly when he saw the vehicle in his spot.

Ashworth, 32, of Peronne Crescent, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to assaulting Kirn Siddique and causing £100 worth of damage to her car. He was remanded on bail until October 6 for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

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Andy Robinson, prosecuting, said the victim was driving along Peronne Crescent at 11.45 am when she got a call on her mobile.

"She pulled over to answer the call and then saw someone come over and smash the window," said Mr Robinson. "The defendant accepted he had used a metal bar and it then hit the driver."

Richard Prew, defending, there was a parking space outside his client's address and he had become paranoid about people using it.

"Unfortunately this lady had the misfortune to pull over in that very spot while she answered her phone," said Mr Prew. "His intention was to smash the window, not to hit her with the metal bar."

Mr Prew said the mental health services were working with Ashworth to help him with his psychosis.