A MAN broke into the home of his former partner while she slept with their toddler daughter and smashed it up during a drink and drug-fuelled rampage.

Andrew Lee's victim – who had to barricade herself in a bedroom – said afterwards: "I can confidently say this was the most afraid I had ever been in my life."

Lee, 27, was jailed for 16 months after he admitted burglary, and assaulting a police officer after he was arrested and booked in at the station.

Teesside Crown Court heard how Lee was given a suspended prison sentence last August for assaulting the woman while they were on holiday in Spain.

Judge Simon Hickey told him the offence from last summer was a "significant" aggravating feature, and said: "Women need to be protected by the courts."

Prosecutor Rachel Masters said Lee and his ex-girlfriend exchanged a series of text messages on December 9, which ended with him threatening to visit the house.

The young mother was scared because she knew Lee had been boozing, and tried to secure the property from an intrusion, Miss Masters told the court.

She fell asleep with her phone next to her, but woke a short while later to find Lee standing over her in the bedroom. He then tried to kiss her.

Lee threw a television from a set of drawers, and his former partner fled to their daughter's bedroom when she heard her crying, and barricaded the door with a wardrobe.

Lee was unable to get in, but went downstairs, smashed another TV, patio doors, internal doors, microwave oven and a lamp and damaged a carpet and every kitchen appliance.

Damian Sabino, mitigating, said Lee, of Oldham Court, Middlesbrough, had received "a glowing" reference from his employer, and he was keen to continue to work to provide for his daughter.

"As the drink, or the drugs, took hold, he became less in control of himself," said Mr Sabino. "While he made the decision to go to the house, I'm not sure if it was a significant degree of planning."