A 67-YEAR-OLD man who smashed the front door window of his partner’s home then hit her in the face has been given a fine and a restraining order.

Laurence Thompson, of Sand Road, Kewstoke, pleaded guilty to assault by beating and criminal damage at North Somerset Magistrates Court.

He and his partner Audrey Page had been together for 11 years.

He regularly worked away in Birmingham and would come back on the weekends.

When he arrived there on September 30, he found the door locked.

Thompson tried to open it with his key, but because a key was in the door on the other side, was unable to.

He then smashed the window and let himself in before he was confronted by his partner, who he hit in the chin and bruised by flailing his arms at her.

Magistrates fined Thompson �350, and ordered him to pay �50 compensation, �85 costs and a �15 victim surcharge.

He was also handed a restraining order restricting him from contacting Ms Page for 12 months.