A 32-YEAR-OLD man who broke into his ex-partner’s home, assaulted her and trashed her house has been jailed.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Aaron Heywood damaged the front door of his victim's house in Reed Street, Burnley, before pulling a TV of the wall and punching his ex-partner Jessica Birkett.

Heywood was sentenced to 34 weeks in prison for the offence for criminal damage and assault, including 18 weeks activated from a previous suspended sentence, for similar offences against Miss Birkett.

The court was told Heywood, from Burnley, was refused entry to the house by Miss Birkett, who was at her home with her four-year-old child who was asleep on the sofa.

Prosecutor Martin Callery said Heywood told the resident to ‘open the door’ or he would force his way in.

The defendant then damaged the uPVC front door before entering into the living and pulling the TV off the wall.

Mr Callery said Miss Birkett was ‘in fear of him’ and ‘thought he was going to hurt her or the child’.

The court was told Heywood, from Marlborough Street, then pushed Miss Birkett to the floor and then ‘began to punch her repeatedly to the face’.

Mr Callery said he punched her ‘two or three times’ before getting off her.

He said: “She was petrified. She was living in significant fear.”

The court heard a neighbour contacted the police to report the incident.

Phillip Holden, speaking for the defence, said it ‘was an unpleasant incident’ and Heywood understands Miss Birkett is now in a new relationship.

Judge Beverley Lunt also ruled a restraining order should be put in place preventing Heywood from interacting with Miss Birkett or her child or approaching their home.