A DRUG addict who burgled his partner's mother's house and then attacked his girlfriend and her daughter, is behind bars for three years and nine months.

Burnley Crown Court heard Darren Heyworth, 32, threatened to kill partner Julie Newton and her 17-year-old daughter.

He then made Miss Newton sit in a chair and assaulted her with two hammers.

Sentencing, Judge Lesley Newton said the attack on Miss Newton, who loved and trusted the defendant, must have been ferocious and he was very lucky her injuries were not more serious.

She added the defendant's guilty pleas reflected genuine remorse and Miss Newton had since written to him in "affectionate terms." The judge told Heyworth: "There is a possibility of you making something of your life.

"It would not be right to impose a sentence that would make you a long-term prisoner."

Heyworth, of Lower Manor Lane, Burnley, had admitted burglary, assault causing actual bodily harm, two charges of deception, two theft allegations, damaging property and common assault.

The court had been told that in the early hours last October, the defendant broke into his girlfriend's mother's home after getting hold of the key.

He helped himself to property worth more than £2,000 and then twice used credit cards he had taken.

Along the way, Heyworth took goods from a district nurse's car and the next day, when confronted about the burglary at his girlfriend's mother's home, attacked his partner, punching her in the face.

He then threw a kettle at the 17-year-old daughter, causing her to fall backwards and shut a door against her arms and legs.

He said he would stab her.

Julie Newton was taken to hospital and on her return, found her home had been trashed.

She suffered bruising and swelling to her right eye and lacerations. An X-ray revealed no bone injuries.

Heyworth had 45 previous convictions.

Richard Taylor, defending, said Heyworth had been abusing heroin and addicts could think of little more than getting their next dose.