A freed prisoner who terrorised his ex-lover after she moved in with his half-brother has been jailed again for five years.

Robert Lineker, 40, broke into the couple's home in Lexden Drive, Seaford, attacked them, smashed windows and made threatening phone calls during his vendetta.

Lineker was released from prison at the end of 1997 and found Shannon James and Robert Grant had "taken up together," Lewes Crown Court heard.

Julian Woodbridge, prosecuting, told how the defendant burst into their house and attacked them one evening in November, 1998, after being seen outside by Mr Grant and his cousin Shane Lineker.

Mr Woodbridge said: "Mr Grant slammed the door shut but a few moments later the door was forced by the defendant and his cousin.

"Once inside the house it was noted that in fact Mr Lineker had a bit of wood in the shape of a rounders bat.

"Mr Grant was struck on the leg by the bat and also struck on the head. There was then grappling."

The court heard Mr Grant was knocked to the floor and kicked as he lay there.

Children upstairs in the house pushed a panic button but although police were alerted, Lineker was not arrested.

Lineker, of Courtney Crescent, Carshalton, Surrey, struck again early one morning a month later, smashing the lounge windows. Two weeks later another window was smashed and an angry exchange took place between Lineker and Mr Grant.

The court also heard that Lineker subjected Miss James to a series of abusive phone calls between November 1998 and May 1999 in which he threatened to kill the couple and insisted they withdrew charges against him.

Lineker admitted two counts of causing actual bodily harm, two counts of criminal damage and one of intimidating a witness.

The court heard that Lineker has 20 previous convictions for 135 offences for a variety of crimes.