THE BOYFRIEND of a prostitute who broke a man's cheekbone because he thought his girlfriend was owed money has been handed a community order.

Anthony Fearn went to John Edwards' home in Broad Walk, Westhoughton, on August 6 last year looking to collect cash he thought the man should have paid his girlfriend, Laura Ord.

Katie Jones, prosecuting, told Bolton Crown Court that a witness had seen Ms Ord outside the home loudly arguing with Mr Edwards.

Then, at around 2.30am Fearn and unknown man arrived at the property and barged in through a side door.

After entering the home, he struck Mr Edwards with his hand, leaving him with a fractured cheek.

The 33-year-old, of Glebe Street, Westhoughton, pleaded guilty to burglary and causing grievous bodily harm and was given a two-year community order, with 150 hours of unpaid work.

Richard English, defending Fearn, a father of two, said that his life has been affected by drugs since he was a teenager.

Judge Richard Gioserano said: "On that night you did not go out to commit any offence at all, just to get the money you believed you were owed. You clearly went about that the wrong way trying to get the money from his home."

He also pointed to the six months that Mr Fearn had already spent in custody after the offence.

During the incident, the unknown second man also stole Mr Edwards' television and was later seen by police carrying it down the road nearby.

Officers stopped but the man dropped the TV, breaking it, and fled from the area.