A MAN who turned up at his niece's house with a case of beer and a bottle of vodka, left but returned later having drunk it all.

Blackburn magistrates heard Paul David Balmbra was told to leave but instead, while she was phoning the police, he trashed her washing machine.

Balmbra, 31, of Garden Street, Padiham, pleaded guilty to criminal damage to a washing machine. He was made subject to a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £100 compensation, £85 costs and £22 victim surcharge. He was made subject to a restraining order for 12 months which prohibits him from contacting his cousin or going onto the street where she lives.

Asked about a restraining order the victim said it wouldn't bother her if she never saw Balmbra again.

Duncan Nightingale, defending, said it was clear from speaking to his client that there were some underlying mental health problems.

"He says the washing machine was already broken and he had gone there to move it into the yard," said Mr Nightingale. "I am not instructed to impose the application for a restraining order."