A MAN caused more than £7,000 damage to a flat by pouring 25 litres of bleach all over furniture during a revenge attack on his cheating ex-girlfriend.

In a fit of rage Ian Milward tipped the large amount of sodium hypochlorite over chairs, flooring and bedding before smashing crockery against the walls of the flat in Malvern as neighbours watched in disbelief.

The chemical attack forced others living at Brookside, off Duke of Edinburgh Way, Malvern Link, run by Elgar Housing Association, to evacuate the building when a team of 24 specialist firefighters were called to the flat on Tuesday, October 30, last year.

Milward pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage to a property when he appeared before Worcester magistrates yesterday.

Gemma Goode, prosecuting, said Milward moved into the flat with ex-partner Rozanne Smith after another property they were living in was flooded in July.

The flat was put in Miss Smith's name.

However, Miss Goode said the relationship between the couple, who had three children together, one of whom died of a disability aged 18 months, broke down and Miss Smith decided to move out of the property and handed back the keys to the housing association.

Milward also had a set of keys and he said he would hand them back once he collected his belongings on Monday, October 29.

Miss Goode said: "During the evening he went to the flat to collect some items and found the 25 litres of sodium hypochlorite used for cleaning a children's swimming pool they had for their children.

"He emptied the chemical on items including chairs, bedding, flooring and furniture and threw crockery against the wall."

The court heard the bleach would have been enough to clean a 13 ft by 15 ft swimming pool for two years, and Miss Goode said a neighbour witnessed some of the incident.

"When he looked inside the property the smell of bleach was so strong it affected his eyes," she said.

"The defendant saw the neighbour and said, That's what she gets for cheating on me for two years'."

Milward then left the property and returned the keys to the housing association. However, when inspectors went to the flat the smell was so overpowering the emergency services were called.

Miss Goode said 27-year-old Milward, who now lives in Bluebell Close, Malvern, was arrested by police but initially denied committing the offence.

However, he later admitted causing the damage.

In mitigation, Jason Patel said his client was angry his ex-girlfriend had been cheating on him, and the court heard he later found out she had been unfaithful for five of the six years they had been together.

Magistrates expressed their concern such a large amount of bleach was in an apartment with children and sent the case to Worcester Crown Court for sentencing. A pre-sentence report is to be prepared and he is due to appear on Friday, February 15. He has been released on unconditional bail until that date.