A FORMER soldier attacked his partner after finding messages on her iPad from an old flame.

Blackburn magistrates heard at one stage Glen Brown put his fingers under her tongue and took hold of her lower jaw causing her intense pain.

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Brown, 30, of Sheffield Road, Nelson, pleaded guilty to assaulting Laura Shepherd.

He was made subject to a community order for 12 months with 120 hours unpaid work and ordered to pay £200 compensation £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge.

Enza Geldard, prosecuting, said Miss Shepherd had spent the night at Brown's house but the following morning she felt he was in a bad mood.

"There was an argument over the messages he had found on her iPad," said Mrs Geldard.

"She tried to explain they were old messages but he took hold of her face and started shouting and growling at her."

Miss Shepherd went to collect her things to go home but when she came downstairs he grabbed her by the throat and put his fingers inside her mouth. He followed her upstairs and pinned her on the bed before punching her in the side.

"She eventually managed to break free and left in her car," said Mrs Geldard.

Catherine Fell, defending, said her client disputed some of the details of the assault but fully accepted his guilt.

"He says the messages he found were not old messages," said Miss Fell. "It wasn't what was said in the messages but more her replies that made him angry."