A WOMAN returning from a night out was shocked when she put the key in the lock and the front room window was smashed from the inside.

Blackburn magistrates heard a split second later her ex-partner jumped out of the house and ran away.

Ashley Stansfield, 31, of Stubbins Vale Caravan Park, Stubbins Lane, Sabden, pleaded guilty to criminal damage to a window. He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with 15 days rehabilitation activity requirement, fined £25 and ordered to pay £200 compensation.

Parveen Akhtar, prosecuting, said the couple had met four months ago, the defendant had moved in two months later and two weeks ago she ended the relationship.

On Saturday night she went out for drinks with friends and returned home in the early hours.

"As she walked down the path she saw a beer can which puzzled her," said Miss Akhtar. "As she put her key in the door the living room window was smashed and the defendant jumped out of her house."

Miss Akhtar said when the relationship ended the victim had the locks changed on her house and she had no idea how he had got in.

"The incident frightened her and made her feel unsafe even in her own home," said Miss Akhtar.

Catherine Fell, defending, said her client had been too drunk to remember what happened and that had worried him greatly. She said Stansfield had no previous convictions and was unlikely to trouble the courts again.