A MAN with a history of domestic abuse found himself in court after damaging the family home.

Alexander Burton Bolton, 23, appeared before Hartlepool Magistrates' Court yesterday, charged with two counts of criminal damage.

The court heard that on Saturday, the father-of-two went to the house in Jesmond Gardens, Hartlepool, to collect some belongings after splitting from his partner Emma Bolton.

The hearing heard how the couple had two children together, both under 16 months, but had split four months ago.

During their turbulent relationship, he had regularly been aggressive towards her, resulting in police being called to the address on previous occasions.

They had recently got back together again, only to fall out and split once more.

When Bolton went to the house on Saturday, to pick up some things, he found the door locked, and his temper flared.

Unable to get in the property, he kicked at the front door, breaking the lock. Entering the house, he punched a hole in an internal door and smashed an iron on the floor.

The unemployed man pleaded guilty to both charges of criminal damage, and told the court he had given his ex-partner money to pay for the damage to the internal door and the iron.

Asked whether he and his partner had sorted out their problems, he said: "I don't know - not sure. One minute we are all right, and then the next we are not.

"I have paid for the door and the iron."

Chairman of the bench Steven Fletcher fined Bolton £100 and ordered him to pay £60 costs.