A MAN must complete unpaid work after he smashed his ex-partner's door while drunk.

Jack Charles, 29, of Fairfield Road, pleaded guilty to one charge of criminal damage at Salisbury Magistrates Court on Friday, October 20.

At around 10.15pm on October 27, 2021, Charles went to his partner at the time's house in Warwick Close after having "a couple of drinks" with his friends.

The court heard how the complainant had invited Charles round for dinner but he had not turned up and instead arrived late and drunk.

The victim heard a "loud smash" coming from her locked back door and found Charles standing in her living room.

Bob Scott, defending, said the victim was "not happy to let him in" but claimed Charles apologised to her, cleared up the glass and left £200 in a pot to pay for the damage before going to his mother's house. 

No evidence was offered to support that Charles left money to pay for a repair.

Charles, a father of two, has two previous convictions and had been a self-employed landscaper but had to stop after developing arthritis.

Magistrates sentenced him to a 12-month community order during which he must complete 50 hours of unpaid work and pay £174.14 compensation to Sanctuary Housing.