A burglar stole his ex-partner’s credit card and driving licence after kicking her door in before sending her pictures of the stolen items.

Dean Holden, 29, sent the woman a message saying her was coming to her house to collect his things on March 11 last year.

But Bolton Crown Court heard how she disputed that there was anything of his at her house and that Holden arrived, shouting to be let in.

Katy Laverty, prosecuting, said: “The door was kicked in and the force threw the complainant against the wall.”

Ms Laverty told the court how Holden, who has 25 previous convictions for 37 offences, then punched her and took the woman’s card and provisional driving licence before punching her again three time.

She said that he then contacted her on another Facebook account other than his own to show the woman pictures of the stolen credit card and driving licence.

Holden, of Waggon Road, Breightmet, was arrested soon after and gave police a prepared statement denying his offences but answering no comment to all extra questions put to him.

But he eventually pleaded guilty to burglary on the first day of his trial, which the prosecution accepted.

Ms Laverty told the court that she was not asking for a restraining order for Holden against his victim.

Niamh McGinty, defending, argued that Holden was entitled to at least some credit for admitting his crime at that stage.

She also said that Holden, who appeared before the court by video link from prison, had already spent a “considerable time in custody” for other matters but that he had a “realistic prospect of rehabilitation.”

Ms McGinty said: “He instructs me that he is determined to turn over a new leaf, he is at present at something of a crossroads.”

She added: “He wishes now to turn his back on what can only be described as a terrible record.”

Recorder Alexandra Simmonds accepted that Holden was entitled to credit for having pleaded guilty but reminded the court of his previous behaviour.

Addressing the defendant, she said: “You are 29 years old but you have managed to accumulate a large number of offences in those 29 years.”

She added: “Its clear that you struggle to deal with your emotions appropriately.”

But Recorder Simmonds said she noted that Holden seemed to be more willing now to turn his life around.

She said: “I note you are now more willing to engage, whereas in the past you have been less motivated, with less incentive to engage in rehabilitation.”

She added: “By the narrowest of margins, I’m going to give you that opportunity.”

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Recorder Simmonds sentenced Holden to two years in prison, suspended for two years.

She also ordered him to take part in the building better relationships programme and to complete 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days with 80 hours of unpaid work.

Recorder Simmonds warned Holden that if he breached his order he would be back before her and she would activate his suspended sentence.