A LOVE rival who broke into the home of his former partner and her new boyfriend has walked free from court.

Kevin Baker, of Kirkstall Close, Toothill, kicked down the door of the property and smashed a TV.

The 33-year-old was already on a suspended sentence after admitting assaulting a man who was with an ex-girlfriend.

But after hearing that Baker was the sole carer for two children a judge imposed another suspended sentence.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court the offence took place on December 16 last year.

Baker kicked in the door of the flat in Redcliffe Street, Rodbourne, before going inside, kicking the TV set and taking a set of keys.

Baker admitted burglary, which put him in breach of a suspended sentence imposed in July last year for actual bodily harm.

Chris Smyth, defending, said his client had just started a domestic abuse course on the supervision order. He said he had been on a 13-hour night-time curfew for four months since his arrest without any problems.

He said the night before the offence he had been for a meal with his former partner and given her £800 for Christmas presents.

Mr Smyth said: “He felt aggrieved that he had parted with the money he felt under false pretences. He went about it the wrong way.”

Since the offence he said his two children had come to live with him and he was now their sole carer.

Passing sentence Judge Douglas Field said: “I am satisfied that the motive for this burglary was not to enrich yourself from the household and there is a domestic background to this offence.

“You are the carer for your children. I have had it confirmed in a letter that if you are sent to prison today they will have to be cared for by the local authority.”

He imposed a nine month jail term, suspended for two years, and imposed a 9pm to 5am curfew for three months and put him on supervision for two years.