Shutting herself away in the kitchen to avoid further argument with her boyfriend, a woman came out after five minutes to find he had trashed her Porthleven flat and then left.

At Truro Magistrates’ Court Thomas Gordon, 26, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to property belonging to Denise Bicknell at Porthleven on September 22.

Gail Hawksley, for the CPS, said the couple had known each other for the past five or six years, and had been in a relationship since December. They did not live together, but Gordon occasionally stayed with her.

On September 22 they had been drinking together and got in an argument at her flat. He was left alone for about five minutes, during which time she heard banging and crashing outside the kitchen where she had shut herself in. When she came out she found the flat was damaged and he had gone.

Police officers found the flat trashed, with two windows broken and furniture broken.

Gordon was found hiding in a bush nearby, and admitted causing the damage. He said he had no excuses but had anger issues.