A MAN who was refused entry to the family home because he had tested positive for coronavirus kicked in the front door.

Blackburn magistrates heard Abid Ali pushed past his sister and entered the house despite members of the family shielding as a result of the pandemic.

Ali, 40, of Castle Street, Nelson, pleaded guilty to assaulting his sister and damage to the front door of his mother’s home. He also pleaded guilty to four charges of shoplifting.

He was made subject to a curfew for eight weeks between 7pm and 7am, ordered to pay £140 compensation to Morrisons and £140 compensation to Morrisons and £140 to Wilkinsons, £40 costs and £90 victim surcharge. He was made subject to a restraining order which prohibits him from having contact with his sister or entering Victoria Street, Nelson, where his mother lives.

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said Ali turned up at the family home at 12.20am, kicking and banging and shouting to be let in.

“She told him he couldn’t come in because he had tested positive for Covid-19,” said Mrs Yates.

“He wasn’t happy and said he was going to break the door down and break her legs.”

Ali then went to the rear of the house where he kicked in the back door and pushed past his sister, knocking her against the fridge, before going upstairs for a shower.

“He told police he had been given a cigarette by an unknown person and when he smoked it he felt dizzy and dirty and went to his mum’s for a shower,|” said Mrs Yates.

The theft offences were 70 bars of chocolate from Morrisons, a £40 printer, a buffet warmer and chocolate bars worth £100 all from Wilko.

David Leach, defending, said his client had been using heroin but was now on a methadone script.

“Alcohol is now more of a problem,” said Mr Leach.