A visit to hospital for a first baby scan ended in violence when the dates didn't tally.

Blackburn magistrates heard Matthew Darren Jackson realised the baby wasn't his and turned on his partner, eventually biting her on the arm.

Jackson, 27, of Meadow Close, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to assaulting his partner, causing damage to her front door and assaulting an emergency worker on separate occasions.

He was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison suspended for 18 months and ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and 30 days Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.

He was ordered to pay £300 compensation and made subject to a restraining order for two years which prohibits any contact with his ex-partner.

Vaqas Yaqub, prosecuting, said Jackson had gone to Royal Blackburn Hospital with his partner for the first scan.

"It showed she was 11 weeks and five days pregnant and that meant the child was not his," said Mr Yaqub.

"As they got out of the hospital he began shouting and screaming and calling her a slag. He said he was going to batter her and she ended up cowering on the floor."

When she said she was calling her dad Jackson tried to wrestle her phone off her and then suddenly bit her arm really hard.

"Every time she tried to pull away he bit harder and eventually she gave him the phone," said Mr Yakub.

The assault on an emergency worker occurred at a hostel where the victim was staying. Police had arrived at the hostel because of an earlier incident and while they were there Jackson turned up.

When the officer attempted to arrest him Jackson pulled away and as she tried to take hold of his arm he lashed out and hit her in the face. Other officers arrived and he was arrested.

The criminal damage happened at her home in Nelson. They had argued and he chased her out of the house. She managed to get back in and locked the door.

"He became enraged and kicked the door through," said Mr Yakub.

Trevor Grice, defending, said the offences went back to July of last year and there had been no further offences since.

He said Jackson had previous problems with alcohol and cocaine and following the death of his mother in March 2020 he returned to old habits.

"Since these offences he has turned his life around," said Mr Grice. "He moved away from Burnley and has been staying with his sister. He has got a job and has overcome all his addictions."