A 'nasty and vindictive' ex-boyfriend has been handed a five-year restraining order, told to pay £1,750 compensation and given a community order after trashing a woman's home.

Jordan Cobbold, Felixstowe Beach Caravan Park, admitted criminal damage and burglary after he went into her home without permission after they had split up and vandalised walls, furniture and electrical items.

Ipswich Crown Court heard how the 21-year-old had only been dating the victim for a short time when he went to her home in Ipswich, in April last year, using keys she had previously given him, and trashed the place and also took a necklace he had previously given the victim on her birthday.

David Tremain, prosecuting, told the court that a fortnight into the relationship, the victim, who he had met on a dating website, gave Cobbold keys to her house so that he could visit when she was there.

However, the relationship broke down weeks later, and the victim asked Cobbold to return the keys.

Cobbold had previously admitted entered the victim's home, where he caused damage worth £1,519.73 using makeup and food.

The court heard that, although the victim tried to clean the carpet herself, she needed a professional cleaner, had needed to repaint the front room, living room and bathroom.

Steven Dyble, mitigating, said that Cobbold had not re-offended or made contact with the victim since the incident, was a man of no previous convictions, and urged Recorder Jeremy Benson QC to view the offence as a 'one-off'.

Recorder Benson QC told Cobbold at the sentencing hearing on Wednesday: "You went to her address and, if I may use the vernacular, trashed the place.

"You caused damages of approximately £1,500. It was nasty. It was vindictive.

"It caused great hurt and anxiety to the complainant. It clearly crosses the custody threshold."

Due to the plea of guilty and the fact that you are a young man with no previous convictions, Recorderer benson added: "There is hope of rehabilitation."

Cobbold was given two-year community order, with 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days and 180 hours of unpaid work, ordered to pay £1,750 in compensation to the victim and a further £425 in court costs.

He was also issued with a five-year restraining order, banning him from contacting the victim.