AN ACCESS visit to take his daughter swimming ended with a 19-year-old Church man grabbing his ex-partner by the throat.

Hyndburn magistrates heard that William Gerrard Rooney lost his cool when his ex-refused to let the girl go because she didn't approve of one of his friends who was also going to the baths.

Rooney, of Somerset Grove, pleaded guilty to assaulting Alexandra Cooper. He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Philippa White, prosecuting, said Miss Cooper did not think one of the people who was going swimming was appropriate to be in the company of her three-year-old daughter.

"When she told the defendant this he became aggressive and started shouting at her," said Mrs White. "She stopped him coming into the house and he grabbed her by the throat and for a few seconds she had difficulty breathing. He eventually let go and walked off."

Bernard Horne, defending, said the first few months of a separation were often the most difficult and there were often arguments over access to children.

"On this occasion he had done everything right," said Mr Horne. "He made the arrangements and turned up on time.

"His partner didn't like this person who might have been going swimming and for this reason she was not going to let my client take his daughter swimming.

"It was not that this person was unsuitable, just that she didn't like him."