A DRUG addict who attacked his pregnant partner as her little boy slept nearby could soon be facing a prison sentence.

Burnley magistrates had been told how jobless Darren Atkin, 27, hit frightened victim Michelle Gledhill.

He squeezed her cheek, pinched her thigh and then phoned the father of her son and threatened to kill him.

Atkin admitted common assault, criminal damage and making a threatening telephone call.

He was bailed until May 18, on condition he lives at The Hawthorns, Waterfoot.

He must also observe a curfew between 7pm and 7am, and he must not contact the victim or go within 1,000 metres of her home.

Christiana Buchanan, prosecuting, said after the defendant and Miss Gledhill resumed their relationship following a break he became paranoid and accused her of looking at other people.

The relationship started to deteriorate again and Atkin assaulted Miss Gledhill on April 26.

She was left bruised and in pain.

After Atkin threated her former partner, she went to her parents and they called the police.

When officers went to the victim's property, they found the front door had been damaged.

Mrs Buchanan said Miss Gledhill felt foolish for allowing Atkin back into her life but part of the motivation for her decision to take him back into her life was the fact she was expecting his child.

Ben Leech, defending, said: "He wishes to draw a line under this relationship and under his previous offending behaviour."