A MAN repeatedly breached a restraining order by attending at his girlfriend's family home.

Blackburn magistrates heard the final straw came for her father when he got up on Christmas Day and found Jake Bannister in his front room opening presents as if everything was normal.

The court heard when an officer went to arrest Bannister at his home in Nelson she was inside his flat which represented a further breach.

Bannister, 30, of Albert Street, pleaded guilty to five breaches of the restraining order in favour of Diane Degnan. He was sentenced to eight weeks in prison suspended for 12 months and ordered to pay £85 costs and £156 victim surcharge.

Scott Parker, prosecuting, said the statement of Michael Degnan, Diane's father, provided the details of the first four offences. He said that during the time they were together Bannister had caused his daughter "heartbreak and distress."

"Since the restraining order was imposed in September she has continued to see the defendant," said Mr Parker. "On December 11, 12 and 13 Mr Degnan saw the defendant in his property and asked him to leave which he did.

"When he got up on Christmas Day he went downstairs and found the defendant in the front room with Diane, opening presents, as if this was perfectly normal. He seemed to think he was welcome, despite being told on numerous occasions that was not the case."

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said Bannister had problems with his accommodation and had stayed at his girlfriend's home for a couple of days.

"As far as he is concerned her father knew about that," said Mr Taylor. "He knew he shouldn't have been there but it was only until he found somewhere else. As far as he was concerned her father was complicit in that."

Mr Taylor said Miss Degnan had made application to the court for the restraining order to be revoked and came to court to support that application.

He said on the day of the hearing there had been some problems and Miss Degnan had to go back to work.

"She has re-applied for the order to be removed altogether and but for her work commitments it would have been removed on the last occasion," said Mr Taylor.