A 41-YEAR-OLD man held an axe to his partner's throat during a row and threatened to chop her head off.

Blackburn magistrates heard the victim thought Brian John Lambert had actually cut her throat with the axe but it turned out there was no injury.

Lambert, of New Line, Bacup, pleaded guilty to two charges of assaulting Natalie Lord. He was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison suspended for 18 months with a 25 day rehabilitation activity requirement. He was ordered to pay £150 costs and £115 victim surcharge and made subject to a restraining order for 18 months.

Eddie Harrison, prosecuting, said as he held the axe to his partner's throat Lambert said: "If you don't believe me I'm going to cut your head off."

She said she was going to kick him out and he said; "If I can't have you no one else will I'm going to cut your head off."

"She went back to bed and he went out," said Mr Harrison.

He said the second offence happened five days later when he had woken her up and became violent, pushing and shoving her.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said Lambert had been outside the house chopping wood with the axe and when he came in they began to argue.

"There has never been any violence in the relationship before and he accepts it must have been a deeply upsetting moment for his partner," said Mr Taylor.