A WOMAN who was assaulted by her partner during a drunken row told a court she had goaded him instead of walking away.

Blackburn magistrates heard the victim believed she and Christian Haworth had a future together and just wanted the case to be concluded so they could get on with their life together.

Haworth, 46, of Newchurch Road, Stacksteads, pleaded guilty to assaulting Nicola Naughton. He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £85 costs and £21 victim surcharge.

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said police were contacted by a member of the public who heard a woman screaming as though she was being attacked.

The victim said they had a volatile relationship and her partner had assaulted her on previous occasions when he came home drunk.

"She said that on this day he came home extremely drunk and was telling her to leave," said Mrs Yates.

"He forcibly dragged her out of the house onto the patio where she fell and banged her head. She has said she doesn't want a restraining order and appears to blame herself for provoking the defendant."

John Rusius, defending, said the aggrieved had sent an e-mail detailing what had happened on the night of the incident. She said they had both been drinking and it was not her who called the police.

"I know we have a future and at some point we will get back together," she said. "I would just like this to be over so we can move on. It was me goading him when I should just have walked away."

Mr Rusius said since the incident in March his client had been subject to an electronically monitored curfew as part of his bail conditions.

"That is equivalent to a four and a half month sentence," said Mr Rusius.

"He has already served more of a sentence than the maximum you could give him. I would ask you to take the view he has served his sentence already."