A MAN who smashed a window at his former partner's home and breached a restraining order on him has been given a five month jail sentence, but will be released within a matter of days.

Teesside Crown Court heard that George Daniel has already served the equivalent of the sentence imposed on him due to a spell in custody following his arrest.

Prosecuting, Rachel Masters said the 45-year-old was previously convicted of common assault and made subject to the restraining order in September last year.

On November 14 last year a support worker who had called at the complainant's home in Eldon, near Bishop Auckland, to check her welfare, discovered Daniel was upstairs.

Fearing for her safety, she called a taxi for the woman who shouted for Daniel to leave. He eventually did so, clutching a three litre bottle of cider.

Ms Masters said later the same day the defendant was challenged by a neighbour who described, how in drink, Daniel was banging at the door of the house and throwing objects at a window. A kitchen window was smashed during the incident.

Daniel, of High Northgate, Darlington, admitted breaching the order and destroying property.

The court was told that he had several convictions for violence and had served 18 months in prison for a wounding offence.

Andrew Coleman, mitigating, said the couple's relationship was “alcohol fuelled” and said Daniel had not realised the significance of the restraining order.

Judge Howard Crowson said the five month jail sentence he was passing Daniel had already served and he expected he would be released quite soon.

He said: “Understand that when you are released if you breach the order you might find yourself returning very quickly to where you are now.”