A DRUNK man kicked his way into a house at 5am on the morning after Valentine’s Day, a court heart today (Tuesday 17).

Shaun Haswell, 22, showed up to the house in Ferryhill after he had been drinking and was told to go away.

Blair Martin, prosecuting, said: “At 4.40am the victim heard him kicking at the door and then realised he was coming up the stairs.

“The victim’s partner and brother were in the house at the time and got the defendant to leave before the police were called.”

Peter Hamill, mitigating, said: “He accepts that he was not welcome and has apologised for causing the damage to the door.

“He was obviously in drink when this happened but he knows that is no excuse.”

Haswell, of Eldon Terrace, Ferryhill, said he admitted damaging the door but said he didn’t harm the victim.

He pleaded guilty to using violence to secure entry to the house on Sunday, February 15, and was given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £100 compensation.