A WESTON man who threatened to ‘smash up’ his ex girlfriend’s front door has been fined by magistrates.

Stephen Goodhand, aged 31, kicked his former partner Claire Parker’s front door after discovering she was inside the property with another man.

Ian Dawes, prosecuting, told magistrates at North Somerset Courthouse last week: “There is a domestic context to this incident. They (the complainant and the defendant) had been in a relationship for the last 18 months but it had petered out.

“They had lived together but at the time of the offence, they did not live together.

“On the day of the offence, the pair had met in a pub in Weston to discuss the sale of a bed. The victim left and said there was no problems.

“She returned home, where the defendant was outside her address and was shouting and swearing. He said ‘I’m going to get you’.

“The defendant then said to police he had gone to Ms Parker’s house to ‘have it out with her’ as she was inside with another male. He said to officers he was going to smash up the front door.

“He kicked the front door a number of times and damaged the inside of the frame.

“The complainant does say he has never been violent towards her. However, when he has been drinking, she admits she is fearful of him and he can be verbally aggressive at times.”

Lisa Boyce, defending, said: “You have heard an early guilty plea from the defendant.

“The defendant says on the day in question, he met the complainant to discuss the sale of the bed.

“During a phone conversation with her he heard another male in the background.

“He later found out the male in question was a friend of his. He was extremely remorseful about what happened.”

Goodhand, of Sunnyside Road, pleaded guilty to one charge of criminal damage.

Magistrates fined him £250. He was also ordered to pay compensation of £100, a £150 criminal courts charge, £85 in costs and a £25 victim surcharge.