A woman was asleep in her bed when she woke to find her ex-partner in the room.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard Luke Brooksbank demanded to know about “another “guy”, despite the couple having been separated for over 12 months.

Brooksbank, 29, of Green End Avenue, Earby, pleaded guilty to stalking.

He was made subject to a community order for two years which included a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement, the Building Better Relationships Programme, six months drug rehabilitation requirement and 100 hours unpaid work.

He was ordered to pay £85 costs and £114 victim surcharge and made subject to a restraining order for two years.

District Judge Alexandra Preston said she had read details of the insulting and threatening messages sent by the defendant.

“You then turned up at her address in the early hours of the morning,” said District Judge Preston.

“You separated 12 months earlier and the relationship was finished.

“She is entitled to move on and do whatever she wants with her life. That is up to her and nothing to do with you.”

Scott Parker, prosecuting, said despite the 12 month separation Brooksbank kept harassing his ex and turning up at her home in Barnoldswick at night.

He rang in the early hours calling her a "slag" because he thought she was seeing someone else, and threatened to report her to social services to try and get the children taken off her.

Mr Parker told the court at 12.10am on the night of July 14 she was asleep in bed when the light came on, and he was in her room demanding to know what was going on between her and “this guy.”

She told him to leave and followed him downstairs. When she called the police he left.

Peter King, mitigating, said it had been the defendant’s house and he had a key to the back door.

“He is determined to change and he is going to leave her alone and move on with his life,” added Mr King.