AN alcoholic who attacked his terrified partner on two consecutive days, and then kept her in the house for 48 hours, has been jailed for 16 months.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Philip Simpson, 53, threatened to kill Michelle Cunningham and she feared she would actually die as he put a quilt over her face.

The pair were said to have a volatile relationship and had caused each other pain over the years, but loved each other, the court was told.

Simpson, who had descended from being a decent man into a drunk who took amphetamine, was totally shocked he faced being locked up.

The defendant, of Lennox Street, Worsthorne, had admitted common assault and assault causing actual bodily harm on May 1 and 2, and had been committed for sentence by Burnley magistrates.

The hearing was told on May 1, Simpson had kicked Ms Cunningham with a shod foot and punched her in the face.

Mark Lamberty, prosecuting, said the day after, he charged over to the victim, hit her repeatedly in the head and struck her in the chest.

She had trouble breathing. He then put a quilt over her nose and mouth and she thought she was going to die as he told her: “I am going to kill you”.

Mr Lamberty said the victim was then kept in the house for the next two days.

She finally went to a friend’s house, bruised and injured, and police were called.

Ms Cunningham had two black eyes, and some of her hair was missing.

Tim Storrie, defending, said: “In this quiet corner of Worsthorne, there was a family in decay.”