A 26-YEAR-OLD man attacked his partner for no reason when he returned home early from a night out.

Blackburn magistrates heard Stephen Parsonage punched Nicola Charnock as she opened the door for him and knocked her to the floor.

He dragged her into a corner and kicked her five times in the ribs as she curled up in a ball.

“He started to punch her repeatedly and she was begging him to stop,” said John Wood, prosecuting. “She was apologising for what she had done, although she had no idea what that was.”

Parsonage, of Whalley Old Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to assaulting Miss Charnock.

He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report and warned the magistrates were not ruling out custody.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said Parsonage was deeply ashamed of what he had done.

“He can’t believe he has acted in this manner but he simply can’t remember what happened,” said Mr Taylor.