RECOVERING alcoholic Keith Hughes smashed a window after his former partner refused to let him sleep on her sofa. Hughes stank of drink when he turned up at Samantha Owens home to collect his belongings – and he put his fist through some frosted glass aft

RECOVERING alcoholic Keith Hughes smashed a window after his former partner refused to let him sleep on her sofa.

Hughes stank of drink when he turned up at Samantha Owens home to collect his belongings - and he put his fist through some frosted glass after slamming the door.

"She was very scared, she went to the kitchen and shut herself in," Ely magistrates were told by prosecutor Laura Mardell, "she was terrified and crying.

The couple had been in an on/off relationship for six months, but they split up the previous day, said Miss Mardell.

"Ms Owens felt guilty about that, so suggested he could sleep on her sofa. But she changed her mind and retracted the offer, and Hughes rang her and begged her to let him stay."

After being told to collect his belongings from the conservatory, Hughes arrived at Ms Owens' home, and he begged to talk to her.

"She told him to leave, he stank of alcohol," said Miss Mardell. "He said: "You are frightened of me, aren't you? Hughes stumbled out of the door and slammed it shut."

Ms Owens saw a clenched fist and saw the window smash.

Hughes, 28, who gave the court an address in Gunton's Close, Soham, admitted a charge of criminal damage.

"We were good, but my problem was drinking," he explained. "I want to be happy again, I apologise for what I did.

"I am a recovering alcoholic; if everything goes OK we will be happy again."

Sentencing was adjourned until June 17 for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and Hughes was given conditional bail.