A WIFE confronted her husband after discovering a "happy new year" text message from an old flame on his mobile phone.

Blackburn magistrates heard the confrontation led to a heated row, which ended with Mohammed Zafran assaulting his wife and then telling their four children he was leaving home.

Zafran, 33, of Leamington Road, Blackburn, admitted assaulting Shaheen Zafran.

He was made subject to community supervision for two years, with a condition he attends the domestic violence programme.

He was also ordered to pay £200 costs.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said Mrs Zafran had discovered her husband was having an affair two years earlier, but he denied it.

Graham Parkinson, defending, said the text message had been a New Year greeting and Zafran had no idea who it was from.

"In his eyes it was completely innocent, but his wife went to the trouble of ringing the number and speaking to the sender," said Mr Parkinson.