A WHIRLWIND romance quickly deteriorated into violence during a jealous outburst.

Blackburn magistrates heard Graham Mitchell threw a frozen garlic bread at his partner, dragged her down the stairs and hit her about the head with a TV remote before throwing her out of the back door.

Mitchell, 44, of Riverside, Clitheroe, pleaded guilty to assault.

He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Parveen Akhtar, prosecuting, said the couple had met in June, she moved in with him shortly after and they became engaged in November.

"She says everything was good at first," said Miss Akhtar.

The victim was travelling home from work and called at the Spar shop in Clitheroe to get some groceries.

Mitchell arranged to meet her at the shop and became jealous when he saw her talking to two men.

“He was angry and called her a s*** and a w**** as they walked home and initially locked her out of the house," said Miss Akhtar.

"When he eventually let her in he threw a frozen garlic bread at her, hitting her on the head, and told her they were over," said Miss Akhtar.

"She went upstairs to bathe her face and he followed."

Miss Akhtar said the woman was pleading with Mitchell to stop as he dragged her down the stairs and then hit her in the face with the TV remote.

He threw her out of the door and she landed on her hands and knees before being helped by neighbours.

Ben Leach, defending, said his client had no previous convictions.

He had initially told police he had been defending himself and forced her out of his house when she refused to leave.

"He accepts the facts put forward by the prosecution and just wants to move on from this," aid Mr Leach.