A 29-YEAR-OLD man attacked his sister as she sat in the back seat of a car with a child sitting either side of her.

Blackburn magistrates heard the incident started with Jody Campbell spitting in his sister’s face before he grabbed her by the hair and punched her repeatedly about the head and face.

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The driver stopped the car but when she set off again the row continued and Campbell repeated the assault.

Campbell, 29, of Sharples Street, Accrington, pleaded guilty to assaulting Samantha Campbell.

He was sentenced to eight weeks in prison suspended for two years, made subject to a community order with a 35-day rehabilitation activity requirement and a 60-day programme to address anger management.

He was also ordered to pay £100 compensation to his sister, £85 costs and £80 victim surcharge.

Dominic Howells, prosecuting, said they were travelling back from Manchester when an argument developed over petrol money.

“He was in the passenger seat and turned and said to this sister ‘Carry on and I will bottle you’, said Mr Howells.

After the first attack the driver stopped the car but when they set off again Campbell resumed the assault. Miss Campbell suffered bruising to her arms, bumps and lumps to her head and had clumps of hair pulled out.

Paul Huxley, defending, said Campbell had been to Manchester with his sister and the two children and he had bought lunch and spent money on other things. A friend of his sister came to pick them up.

“There was a bit of friction when the sister suggested he should give the friend some money for petrol,” said Mr Huxley. “She was reluctant to put her hand in her pocket and that caused problems.”

He said Campbell accepted he had anger management issues but was ashamed of his behaviour. “He thinks bridges will eventually be rebuilt when the dust has settled,” said Mr Huxley.