A GREENGROCER was allegedly twice attacked by her fiance who put a cigarette out on her head and later told her to clean up his sick.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Jacqueline Bates, who got engaged to John Howe after the alleged cigarette incident, was punched in the eye and hit with a stick by him -- and he then promised he wouldn't do it again.

Howe, 27, of Westwood Road, Blackburn, denies two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm.

Miss Bates told the jury it became a 'natural thing' for her and Howe to fight and when the defendant was sitting on top of her, with his knees on her arms, he put out the cigarette just above her eyebrow.

She did not report it to the police as he said it would not happen again and she believed him.

Questioned by Rachel Woods, prosecuting, Miss Bates said she and Howe got engaged on Christmas Day. On January 4, she went to work in Manchester and rang Howe to say she would meet him at Asda.

When she got there he was angry, the atmosphere in the car going back home was tense and when they arrived, the defendant pulled her inside by the hair.

His sister tried to stop him, but a scuffle followed, Howe threw her on to the settee and a door came off its frame.

Miss Bates said Howe was sick, told her to clean it up, she refused and he seemed to calm down and started fixing the door.

(Proceeding)