A woman who was 22 weeks pregnant was kicked about the back and side by her partner who had drunk a bottle of vodka, three bottles of cider and taken two bags of heroin.

Blackburn magistrates heard Mark Fisher would not let his girlfriend call for medical attention despite her having difficulty breathing.

Fisher, 19, of Unity Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to assaulting Louise Henwood and theft of a bottle of Bacardi.

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

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said Fisher was with his partner at her mother's house and they had gone to bed together.

"She was suffering discomfort because of her pregnancy and she pushed him," said Miss Allan. "His response was to fly into a rage and punch her."

The row continued and he then punched her on the back of the head before pushing her on to the bed where he repeatedly kicked her in the back and the side of her stomach, said Miss Allan.

She said: "Clearly this assault is aggravated by the vulnerable state of the victim who was in an advanced state of pregnancy."

Kevin Preston, defending, said his client was a young man who clearly needed help. He said the bench which originally heard the case decided on a community punishment because Miss Henwood was supporting Fisher.