RAMESH Hira spat at the mother of his two children and her new partner and kicked the man's ear.

Blackburn magistrates heard it was a case of deja vous because Hira had kicked the same car in exactly the same place on the passenger door eight months earlier.

Hira, 37, of Kirby Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to criminal damage. An existing probation order imposed in February was revoked and he was made subject of a community rehabilitation programme for two years.

David Hartley, prosecuting, said Lorraine Bell had previously had a relationship with Hira. Her new partner, a Mr Evans, was dropping her and her two children off at the multi-storey car park in Higher Church Street so the children could meet their father.

Hira approached and he was clearly angry. As Miss Bell got back into the car he spat at her and then kicked the car door before going round to the driver's side where he spat in Mr Evans' face through the open window.

Mr Hartley said Hira had been sentenced in February for a similar offence involving a car being driven by Mr Evans which he had kicked.