A frightened woman locked herself into her bathroom after her ex-boyfriend started attacking her house, a court heard.

The woman, of Beach Way, Jaywick, had broken up with Mark Ward three months earlier. They had been together two years.

After police arrived, Ward, of St John's Road, Clacton, was arrested but later said he could not remember much about the incident.

The front door of the property had been kicked in and two double-glazed units had been broken.

Ward, 30, appeared before Colchester magistrates yesterday (Thursday) and admitted criminal damage.

Gerald Isted, prosecuting, said: "He found it difficult to accept the relationship was over and continued to visit her address."

He said Ward admitted to drinking three quarters of a bottle of Southern Comfort before visiting his ex-girlfriend.

In mitigation, he said he had reimbursed the landlord of the house for the cost of the damage.

He was bound over to keep the peace for 12 months in the sum of £100 and was fined £90.

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