A man who had issues with drugs and alcohol attacked his partner by grabbing her hair and throwing her across the room.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Darren Fifield also threw a broken banister rail at the woman, who he had been in a relationship with for around two years.

On April 13, the defendant and his victim, along with his victim’s children, were at his home address in Padiham.

Megan Tollitt, prosecuting, said there was a heated discussion between the pair, with his victim calling a family member to come and collect her children, as she could tell his demeanour was changing.

She told the court: “The defendant had been drinking whiskey and began making disparaging comments to his partner.

“The children were collected by her sister and then he asked his partner for his house keys.

"She refused to give them him and he told her to leave before grabbing her by the hair and throwing her across the room.

“She went to go upstairs and put a box behind the door to block herself in. He then came upstairs and began kicking and banging on the door.

“He kicked out four or five times and made a hole in the bottom panel before getting through and crossing the room towards her.”

Ms Tollitt said Fifield punched his victim multiple times in the face and her legs gave way and she fell to the floor, where he continued to rain down blows on her and also tried kicking her in the face.

He then left to get another drink and as she came out of the bedroom he threw a broken banister rail at her which hit her in the chest, and told her if she tried to call for help he would “attack anyone who came”.

The abuse continued for around 20 minutes until she was able to contact her sister on the phone, and she eventually made it out of the house and was assisted by two passers-by who called the police.

Ms Tollitt went on: “She was taken to hospital where it was revealed she had suffered a fractured eye socket and swelling to her face.

“Fifield was arrested at his home address and denied the offences but accepted arguing with the victim.”

Fifield, 48, of Altham Street, Padiham, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Mitigating, Mark Stuart said his client had spent six months in custody and had many references which spoke in his favour, including one from his ex-wife of 23 years.

He said: “He had been using cannabis to help him sleep and was drinking a lot of whiskey but since he’s been in custody he’s been working with the substance misuse team and is now free from drugs and alcohol.”

Sentencing Fifield to 20 months in prison suspended for 20 months, Recorder Daniel Prowse said: “This was a vicious assault which has left your victim in pain and she now suffers nightmares.

“What is unusual about this is that you do not have any history of domestic violence.”

Fifield was also ordered to carry out 20 rehabilitation activity days and was placed on a six-month curfew between the hours of 9pm and 6am.