A JILTED boyfriend took his revenge on his former partner by defecating on her living room rug on Christmas Day, a court heard.

Nathan O'Shaughnessy, 30, entered the Prestwich home of his ex on December 25 last year after she agreed he could come around to collect his belongings after their relationship came to an end.

But instead, O'Shaughnessy entered the woman's house and smashed a TV and mirror before defecating on the rug.

At Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, Peter Gilmour, prosecuting, said the woman had spent Christmas Day with her family rather than at her home address on Hampden Road.

"She left her address unlocked thinking the defendant would change his clothes and collect his belongings," he said. "What happened in fact was that he let himself in through the unlocked back door.

"She returned home on Boxing Day and discovered what had happened."

Mr Gilmour said that O'Shaughnessy, of no fixed abode, also posted a photograph of the faeces on the rug on his Facebook account.

His actions caused £380 worth of damage, added Mr Gilmour, who said O'Shaughnessy had spent around five weeks in custody after he was originally charged with burglary and stealing an iphone.

Both charges were subsequently dropped with O'Shaughnessy pleading guilty to criminal damage.

Sentencing O'Shaughnessy, who appeared via video link from HMP Forest Bank, to two weeks imprisonment, Judge Tina Landale, said: "This was a thoroughly disgusting and mean offence and I am sure you regret it now and I'm sure you're not proud of yourself."

O'Shaughnessy was also made the subject of a restraining order not to contact his former girlfriend for 18 months.

"This should give everyone the time to settle down and find a different way of life," added Judge Landale.