A MEETING with his estranged partner ended with a man jumping on the bonnet of her car and smashing the windscreen.

Blackburn magistrates heard Samuel Shackleton then followed the victim as she drove off and only abandoned the pursuit when she pulled up outside a police station.

Shackleton, 26, of Blackburn Road, Rising Bridge, pleaded guilty to criminal damage to a car and possession of cocaine. He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months, fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 costs and £34 victim surcharge.

Andy Robinson, prosecuting, said the couple had been in an on-off relationship for about 18 months and she said there had been previous incidents when he got angry very quickly. Around Christmas time he started messaging her and they agreed to meet on Boxing Day.

“She drove from her home in Burnley to Rawtenstall where she saw him coming towards her vehicle,” said Mr Robinson. “This was about midday and she could see he was drunk.”

Mr Robinson said the victim tried to drive off but Shackleton tried to open the car door and then stood in front of her vehicle.

“She was moving slowly trying to drive away and he jumped on the bonnet of her car and smashed the windscreen with his right hand,” said Mr Robinson.

“She was on the phone to the police who advised her to drive to Burnley police station. He followed her, trying to overtake, and only drove off when she got to the police station.”

Mr Robinson said the aggrieved had confirmed that since the incident Shackleton paid her some money which covered her insurance excess.

Sardar Asghar, defending, said his instructions were that it was a crack in the windscreen rather than a complete smash.

“He accepts that when she tried to drive off he stood in front of the car and then, in order to avoid being hit by the car he jumped on the bonnet and hit the windscreen with the open palm of his hand,” said Mr Asghar.

“They have maintained some kind of amicable relationship since this incident which resulted in him paying her £150 to cover the insurance excess.”

He said his client had forgotten about the small quantity of cocaine which had been in his pocket since his birthday a couple of weeks earlier.