A 40-YEAR-OLD man, described by his teenage girlfriend as ‘controlling’ subjected her to two brutal assaults in the space of two weeks.

Blackburn magistrates heard in the first attack the girl was punched in the face and grabbed round the throat.

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In the second she was repeatedly punched and then kicked as she lay on the floor before being kneed in the crutch.

Ian Hindle, 40, of Church Walk, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to two charges of assaulting Tania Derbyshire. He was remanded in custody for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said Miss Derbyshire had been in a relationship with Hindle since just after she turned 16 after meeting him through Facebook.

“The prosecution say he has groomed a vulnerable person who has only just turned 18,” said Miss Allan. “He introduced her to drugs and there has been a previous history of violence against her.”

Miss Allan said on the first occasion Miss Derbyshire had gone to his sister’s home and waited for him. “He arrived 30 minutes later, high on drugs, and accused her of cheating on him,” said Miss Allan.

“He punched her on the head and then grabbed her by the throat and pushed her against a wall.”

The second incident happened at Hindle’s home.

He dragged Miss Derbyshire upstairs by her hair where he repeatedly kicked and punched her.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said Hindle was addicted to crack cocaine and that impacted on his behaviour.