A MAN who launched a drunken attack on his partner sprayed aftershave in her face.

Blackburn magistrates heard Artur Karolczuk grabbed the victim by the throat, grabbed her by the hair and banged her head against the wall.

The attack only ended when a neighbour, alerted by the woman's screams, intervened.

Karolczuk, 26, of Infirmary Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to two charges of assault and one of criminal damage to a phone.

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

Samantha Hayward, prosecuting, said in the first incident in August the victim had suffered a black eye.

The latest assault and criminal damage happened on Saturday when Karolczuk returned home drunk at 4.50pm.

There was an argument and the defendant started throwing things around the house.

"She says he accused her of talking to her mother on the phone which he then threw against to fridge causing the damage," said Miss Harward.

"He grabbed his partner and pushed her to the floor with his hand around her neck.

"He picked up a bottle of aftershave and sprayed it in her face deliberately."

Miss Hayward said a neighbour heard the commotion and went to investigate.

"She took the victim to her flat and called the police," said Miss Hayward.

Damian Pickup, defending, said his client had come to the UK at the start of the year and things had been difficult because of Coronavirus.

"He says things have got on top of him and he has been drinking to excess," said Mr Pickup.

"He says the argument started because his partner accused him of texting another lady.

"He was actually texting his family back in Poland and arranging to send them some money to help them during the pandemic."

Mr Pickup said his client accepted taking hold of his partner by the neck and pushing her onto the bed.

"He doesn't remember the aftershave or banging her head but accepts what she said will be the truth," he added.