A MAN drank eight pints of lager and took an amphetamine before confronting his former partner, Skipton magistrates heard.

Liam Brennan, 35, was handed a suspended prison sentence after magistrates were told he had taken out his frustration on two doors at his former home in Heather View, Skipton, causing damage estimated at £1,159.

The court heard Brennan, now of Lytham Gardens, had been in a long-term relationship with the woman, but it had broken down due to his excess drinking.

On March 5, he had gone to see her before an argument had led him to go into Skipton and to drink between seven and eight pints of lager. He had also taken an amphetamine, which he believed was a legal high, the court heard.

Brennan then returned to his old house at around 8.30pm, insisting that he wanted to restart the relationship, said Martin Butterworth, prosecuting.

She tried and failed to calm him down, managing to get him outdoors, but he banged repeatedly on the doors, causing the house 'to shake', said Mr Butterworth.

She fled to the back garden where she called his mother, and the police arrived shortly after.

Brennan, who admitted criminal damage and possession of a class B drug, was subject to a year-long community order at the time from Bradford Crown Court after admitting affray, the court was told.

In mitigation, John Mewies said Brennan's previous offences had been almost identical, involving the same property and his former partner.

Mr Mewies said the relationship had been strong until 18 months ago, when Brennan had started drinking to excess. His self-esteem suffered, he was out of work and he started behaving irrationally.

Now an employed electrician, Brennan was attending North Yorkshire Horizons in an attempt to address his drinking.

Magistrates gave Brennan credit for his guilty plea, but added they needed to make a clear step to stop him from re-offending.

He was given an eight-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months and a 12-month community order with up to ten days of rehabilitation activity. He will also have to pay £250 compensation to Yorkshire Housing, owner of the house, a surcharge of £80, and costs of £85.