EX-SOLDIER Dean Cooper assaulted his girlfriend when he returned home drunk after returning from a football match.

Blackburn magistrates heard that after ripping the quilt away he grabbed Kimberley Turnbull by the hair and thumped her on the back of the head and on her thigh as she curled up for self-protection.

During the disturbance the couple's young child woke up and Cooper shouted: "He's my son and you'll never take him from me."

Cooper, 23, of Dove Lane, Darwen, pleaded guilty to assault and was given a community rehabilitation order, formerly a probation order, for 12 months. A condition of the order is that he attends a domestic violence programme.

Eddie Harrison, prosecuting, said Cooper had returned to the house in an extremely drunken condition and had begun to shout incoherently.

He said the attack only stopped when Miss Turnbull told Cooper to go and see to their son.

While he away she called his brother, but while waiting for him to arrive Cooper said to her: "You are scared of me aren't you?"

Roger Pickles, defending, produced a letter from Miss Turnbull which, he said, explained that while they were reconciled she still supported the prosecution.

"My client has shown an enormous amount of remorse," said Mr Pickles. "He values their relationship and wants it to continue."