A DRUNKEN man broke into his partner's home and began attacking her because she had voted 'voted Labour at the election' days before.

Burnley Crown Court heard Robert Charles Cochrane, 36, set fire to clothes belonging to Misty Greenwood and trashed her Oswaldtwistle home during the incident on June 10.

The court heard how Cochrane prevented Ms Greenwood from leaving her home in Frederick Street for 90 minutes and the terrified victim had to run to her cousin's house in her nightie.

Prosecuting Stephen Parker said that around 2.30am on June 10, Cochrane broke his way into Ms Greenwood's home and found his victim asleep on the settee.

Mr Parker said Cochrane then slapped and punched Ms Greenwood and squeezed her cheek before saying: "That's what you get for voting Labour."

Ms Greenwood then attempted to leave the house but Cochrane blocked her path to the front door and said: "I am going to kill you."

He then continued to slap and punch Ms Greenwood and threw her around the living room, the prosecutor said.

Mr Parker said: "She was extremely frightened. She hadn't seen that side of him before."

After around 90 minutes Ms Greenwood managed to escape through the front door and ran to her cousin's house.

When she returned home after several hours Cochrane had left the house, but Ms Greenwood saw some of her clothes had been set on fire outside her front door.

Mr Parker said the defendant had also smashed her TV and laptop, thrown Ms Greenwood's bedding out of the bedroom window and turned her wheelie bin upside down. The total damage caused amounted to around £650.

The court heard police arrested the drunken father-of-two at a pub in Accrington the following evening.

In interview he admitted to being in an 'on-off relationship' with Ms Greenwood but answered no comment to most other questions.

Cochrane, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to batter, arson and criminal damage.

Defending, Clare Thomas, said her client was 'remorseful' and ashamed that his 13-year-old son had been walking past the pub when he had been arrested and witnessed his behaviour to the police. She also said there were "unresolved issues" from his past that he was masking with alcohol and he had never been arrested sober.

Ms Thomas said: "He has no recollection of this offence. He's somebody who clearly has a significant problem with alcohol. He drinks to excess. He commits offences. He told me every time he has been arrested he has been drunk."

The court heard that Cochrane had 10 previous convictions for 17 offences.

Jailing Cochrane for nine months, Judge Andrew Woolman, said: "It was a disgraceful episode and part of a pattern in your life which has been going on for many years. I trust this has been a wake up call. All these episodes can't go on.

"You are not only damaging you're own health, you're damaging the mental health of your children."

Cochrane was also made subject of a two-year restraining order banning him from contacting Ms Greenwood.