A THUG left his ex-partner terrified when he flouted a restraining order and threatened to smash her face up, a court heard.

Damon Murphy, 42, was given the order for attacking Sarah Parker.

He was banned from contacting her, but phoned and texted her.

Ms Parker told police Murphy could be nice one minute but not the next.

Burnley magistrates were told how the defendant had been locked up for serious offences and was recalled on his licence and sent back to jail after assaulting the victim. Their relationship started up again when he was freed.

Murphy could find himself behind bars yet again, after admitting breaching the restraining order, at Nelson, between October 10 and 19.

The defendant, of Rhoda Street, Nelson, was bailed until November 14, for a pre-sentence report.

The bench chairman warned him: “It’s an all options report.

“Nothing is in, nothing is out. You could end up in custody.”

Murphy was bailed and told he mus not contact the victim.