Terrified couple flee through bedroom window as drunk smashes into their home

Simon Miller, of Luckham Road East, kicked down the front door of the property in Malvern Road while on a bender on December 23 last year - just 24 hours after he had been sentenced for assaulting a police officer.

When police arrived at the property shortly after 3.55am, they discovered the 24-year-old sprawled on a sofa in the living room.

Inside a black bag Miller had with him, officers discovered 3.9g of cocaine and a quantity of cannabis.

The defendant appeared at Bournemouth Magistrates' Court where he admitted criminal damage, possession of a class A drug and possession of a class B drug.

Lee Turner, prosecuting, said: "The occupants of the property were asleep in a bedroom.

"They were woken by crashing and slamming noises. They believed it was their son returning home, but then heard an unknown male shouting out.

"They realised it was a stranger. They barricaded themselves in their bedroom and climbed onto the conservatory through the window."

The prosecutor said Miller was "incoherent" when police arrived at the property, and when asked about his identity, replied: "Your mum."

Mark Hensleigh, mitigating for Miller, said it was an "unusual case".

"He cannot recall anything about breaking into the property, he has no recollection whatsoever of the break-in," he said.

"He consumed a considerable amount of vodka. He has in the past had problems with black-outs."

Mr Hensleigh said unemployed Miller could recall nothing about the night, with his memories beginning again when he woke up in a cell.

"This was the reckless act of a drunken man," he said.

District judge Stephen Nicholls said Miller had appeared at the court on December 22, when he was ordered to pay a total of £535 for assaulting an officer on December 6.

The judge sentenced the defendant to an 18-month community order with 19 sessions of a Thinking Skills programme, 150 hours of unpaid work and a 15-day rehabilitation requirement.