A TEENAGER scratched his ex-girlfriend's left breast with a house key when she ended their tempestuous year-long relationship, a court heard yesterday.

The girl had refused to give back the keys to her ex-lover's flat after they had broken up only moments before.

Darlington Magistrates' Court was told he violently grabbed the keys from her, scratching her in the process.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of assault, in March, but was cleared of two other public order offences against his former girlfriend.

The girl, who was 16 at the time, had also accused the teenager of threatening her new boyfriend with a knife in a jealous rage in the same month, and of biting her on another occasion. However, magistrates said there was insufficient evidence and dismissed the two charges.

The girl said the youth had been a very jealous boyfriend and had tried to control her during their year-long relationship by constantly checking her phone and deleting her phone numbers.

She also said he would pull her hair, pinch her and put his hand over her mouth when he made her cry. The defendant denied this.

He added: "I cheated on her with six other girls when we were together. In my eyes, she made up these things for revenge."

The defendant will be sentenced at Darlington Magistrates' Court on November 18.

He will face sentence for another two offences, including obstructing a policeman in his duty and not meeting bail requirements. He has pleaded guilty to these offences. He is on conditional bail.