A judge has ordered the arrest of a jealous man who broke into the home of a love rival.

Paul Flint admitted the burglary and was due to appear for sentence at Hove Crown Court today. Judge Anthony Scott-Gaul issued a warrant without bail for Flint's arrest after he failed to turn up at court.

Andrew Selby, defending, said Flint's lawyers had not been able to contact him.

Guy Russell, prosecuting, asked the judge to issue the warrant during a brief hearing.

At a hearing in January the court heard Flint had split up with his girlfriend after she started seeing his friend Sam Buckman.

Peter Treager, prosecuting, said Flint broke into Mr Buckman's flat in Cherwell Road, Heathfield, in December because he was jealous.

He threw a DVD player on the floor, smashed a glass ornament and stole a display of samurai swords.

Flint had sent his girlfriend abusive text messages before and after the burglary.

After the break-in he rang her to say he had heard her new boyfriend's flat had been broken into.

Flint, a plasterer, later told police he committed the offence because he was jealous of the relationship.

Barbara Down, defending, said Flint's partner left him shortly after giving birth to their child.

She added: "He found it extremely difficult to come to terms with what he sees as a betrayal of one of his good friends and his ex-partner.

"He would have found it easier if she had told him it was over rather than have an affair and he find out."

She said he had committed the offence in a moment of madness and drunken stupidity.

The judge said Flint, of Highfields, Burwash, near Heathfield, had behaved like "an idiot".

He adjourned the hearing so that Flint could be assessed for an alcohol treatment programme.

Flint will be held in custody after his arrest until he can be brought before the court to be sentenced.