A BLACKBURN man who went on the run for 11 months has been convicted of assaulting his partner Sean Davies, 28, faces 26 weeks in prison - but failed to turn up in court to hear his trial.

He grabbed then-girlfriend Lisa Ruan by the throat and threatened her because he thought she was on the phone to another man, Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard.

Davies, of Chestnut Walk, Blackburn, had already been to prison during the couple's relationship.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said that after his release, Davies had changed and become violent towards Miss Ruan. She ended the relationship but Davies kept coming to her house, and rang and texted the victim frequently.

The prosecutor said: "He was eventually given a warning under the Harassment Act, but, despite that, continued to contact her. Miss Ruan says he was making her life a misery."

On the day of the assault, Miss Ruan answered a knock at the door and Davies was standing there. She had a phone in her hand and he demanded to know who she was talking to, before a scuffle ensued as he tried to grab her phone, the court heard.

Miss Allan said that after the trial, Davies had disappeared and had been at large for 11 months.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said his client did not accept all the allegations against him, but did accept that he would be sentenced on the prosecution case having failed to attend his trial.