A JUDGE has discharged a jury from returning a verdict in the trial of a man accused of attacking his partner - and bound both of them over.

The move came after Kevin Veitch's then co-habitee Deborah Taylor told the jury they were "sometimes" still together, kept in touch and she had damaged his car.

Judge Raymond Bennett bound Veitch, 37, over in the sum of £200 to keep the peace for 12 months and mother of two Miss Taylor in the sum of £100 for a year.

Veitch, then of Church Street, Padiham, had been charged with and denied assault causing actual bodily harm after alleged trouble in front of the couple's three children in the early hours of New Year's Day. The allegation was left to lie on the file.

The prosecution had claimed the defendant threw a mobile telephone and plate at Miss Taylor which cut her on the back of the head.

He was then said to have shouted at and struck the complainant and the next thing she recalled was waking on her bedroom floor. Her right eye was swollen and Veitch was said to leant over her, asking: "How did you get that black eye?"

He was then alleged to have punched her in the left eye and said she had given herself a black eye to make everyone think he had been hitting her.

Veitch was then said to have begun jumping on Miss Taylor, kicked her in the mouth and started to pack his clothes.

John O'Shea, prosecuting, had told the court Miss Taylor then got her children, went to a nearby house and contacted the police.

She was taken to Burnley General Hospital, where it was found she had allegedly suffered multiple lacerations and bruises to her face.