A MAN who went out on New Year’s Eve to exchange a Christmas present rang his partner six hours later to say he was at the football and had been drinking.

Blackburn magistrates heard Alan William Day was a reformed alcoholic who credited his partner with getting him off the booze.

And when he returned to her Barnoldswick home things were tense between the pair and ended with her suffering a black eye.

Day, 57, of Bolton Street, Colne, pleaded guilty to assaulting Julie Belshaw and damaging a phone belonging to her. He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £200 compensation and £20 victim surcharge.

Charlotte Crane, prosecuting, was staying at Miss Belshaw’s home when he ‘popped’ into Burnley to exchange a jumper.

He eventually came back at 7.30pm and things were tense between them.

Miss Crane said at some stage Day wanted to look at his partner’s phone which he eventually smashed onto a table.

“During the tussle she was struck in the face and suffered a black eye,” said Miss Crane.

Keith Rennison, defending, said the couple planned to marry and Day considered Miss Belshaw to have been an extremely positive influence on his life.

“He accepts he has a problem with alcohol but that s largely under control thanks to Miss Belshaw,” said Mr Rennison. “On the day of this incident he reverted to old habits.”

Mr Rennison said during the tussle over the phone Day pulled his arm away and struck Miss Belshaw in the face.

“It wasn’t an intentional blow but he accepts it caused the injury,” said Mr Rennison.