A FATHER-of-two assaulted his ex-partner after she was said to have been ‘provocative’ - dancing and flirting in front of him in his local pub, a court heard.

Daniel Morgan, 33, who was banned from approaching Tina Day by a restraining order, had told her :"Don't wind me up," and had then pulled her hair hard when the pair's paths crossed in the Waterloo pub, Bacup on June 9.

Burnley magistrates were told how the defendant claimed the incident happened after Miss Day had wanted him to have the children so she could go on a " hen do," but he had told her he had too much on and had refused.

Morgan and the victim had split up last October after a 13-year relationship and, she would say, he wouldn't leave her alone. The restraining order was imposed on May 14, after Morgan had been convicted of damage and assaulting Miss Day.

Morgan is now awaiting sentence again, after admitting breach of the restraining order and assault by beating. The defendant, of Clough Road, Bacup, was bailed until July 2, for a pre- sentence report.

Andrew Robinson, prosecuting, said Miss Day tried to ignore Morgan when she saw him in the pub, but he went up to her and tried to talk to her. He pulled her hair, let go, walked away and was arrested in the pub by police.

Ben Leech, defending, told the hearing Morgan would say he generally frequented the Waterloo pub and did so during the course of the relationship. The solicitor continued :" It's somewhere she knows that he goes regularly and one would have anticipated she may have thought it best not to go into that pub."

Mr Leech said Morgan was socialising when the victim and her friend went into the pub. He perceived she was behaving in a very provocative manner, dancing and flitting where he could see her. The solicitor said :" He tried to remain calm, thinking he knew what was going on. He does concede he should have handled himself in a different manner."

Mr Leech said Morgan had told Miss Day not to wind him up. He didn't perceive himself to be drunk. The solicitor added:" Miss Day does concede she did consider herself drunk at the time.”