A MAN followed his ex-partner through a town centre before assaulting her, her new partner and his family at their home in a terrifying early hours attack, a court heard.

The violent actions of Dean Lyons were said to be "serious and prolonged and completely unacceptable".

An angry Lyons punched his ex-partner's new boyfriend and his dad - who had been trying to protect her - before causing injuries to others by trying to kick down a door at their home.

Lyons, aged 23, of Culliford Way, Littlemoor, Weymouth admitted four counts of assault by beating and one count of criminal damage at Weymouth Magistrates Court.

It relates to an incident in the early hours of Sunday, May 7 last year in Weymouth.

Siobhan Oxley, prosecuting, said Lyons encountered his ex-partner, Chloe Gould, during a night out.

After several encounters and arguments, Lyons and his friend followed her to The Old Rooms Inn on the quayside, the home of her new partner.

Dorset Echo: The Old Rooms InnThe Old Rooms Inn (Image: NQ)

Ms Oxley said: "Whilst she was walking there, the defendant and his friend followed shouting 'you are going to go home or staying with me.'"

Ms Oxley read a witness statement from Ms Gould which said: "I told him to leave me alone and I carried on walking back. I got my key in the lock. He (Lyons) kicked the door with great force.

"I pushed him in the chest but it didn't work. He pushed me out of the way."

The court heard her new partner, Sam Peck, and his dad Mark went out and got Ms Gould inside before trying to close the door. They called 999 from the upstairs office.

A statement from Mark Peck read: "It started just before 4.30am. I woke up to my son (Sam) shouting 'They have her outside, they are beating her up'. My immediate thought was to protect her (Ms Gould) so we went out to bring her to safety."

He received two punches to his left eye from Lyons. Mr Peck described it as immediate pain', adding: "All I could see was blood which poured down my face. I thought he split my eyelid."

Sam Peck was also punched on the chin when he went outside.

Lyons shouted and swore before leaving. He returned after a few minutes and began to repeatedly kick the door, which the victims - including Mr Peck's wife Kyria - would push against to try and keep closed. This resulted in multiple bruises on the victims.

The court was shown images of the injuries, and damage to the door.

Read more: In the Dock - Weymouth Magistrates Court April and May

Lee Christmas, mitigating, said: "We have a young man with no previous convictions. We have a guilty plea. He is self-employed, and employs quite a few people."

Chair of the magistrates' bench, Dominic Brittain, said: "They (Lyons's actions) were serious and prolonged in nature and completely unacceptable, and I think in the light of day you can see that."

Lyons was given a 12-month community order with a requirement to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days. Furthermore, he must not contact Chloe Gould directly or indirectly for 12 months.

He was fined £1,000 and must pay a surcharge of £114 and court costs of £85.