A JILTED boyfriend broke into his rival's garage at dead of night and let down one of his car's tyres, York magistrates heard.

But Mandy Cates and the new man in her life, John Shield, had heard banging and alerted police, said Steven Ovenden, prosecuting.

Officers arrested her former boyfriend Paul Storr, 29, inside the Huntington garage shortly after 2am on Sunday. He had forced his way in by breaking the lock open and cried "you are dead" at Mr Shield when he was found.

Storr, of Finsbury Street, South Bank, York, pleaded guilty to criminal damage.

Magistrates conditionally discharged him for 12 months and ordered him to pay £50 towards repairing the lock. They also told him to pay £55 prosecution costs.

Mr Ovenden said there had been previous incidents between the two men, and Mr Shield and Ms Cates had decided to stay in on Saturday night to avoid meeting Storr.

But about 2am they heard someone apparently trying the back door. Storr rang their number and they heard banging from outside.

For Storr, Damien Morrison said he and Ms Gates had been engaged and had had a relationship for three years. But about five months ago, his suspicions that there was another man in her life were confirmed.

On Saturday, Storr was at Mr Shield's house at 5pm. Having checked that it was the right house, he went away and drank heavily before returning at about 2am.

He did not try the house's door and did not damage the car. Two screws on the garage lock came loose when he tried to open it and he got inside.

Updated: 11:22 Saturday, May 31, 2003