A MAN dragged his girlfriend around a pub car park by the hair, knocking her to the floor on several occasions before slamming her against the side of her car.

Blackburn magistrates heard that, as Laverne Wickers tried to drive off, David Alan Ainsworth leapt on the bonnet and started jumping up and down.

Later that night he called at her home and tried to kick the door in before smashing windows.

Miss Wickers told her nine-year-old daughter to hide under the bed because she did not want the girl to see her mother being assaulted.

Ainsworth, 40, of Accrington Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to assaulting Miss Wickers, causing £500 worth of damage to her car and damaging a door and windows at her home.

He was put on probation for 18 months and ordered to pay £500 compensation. Miss Wickers told the court that she and Ainsworth were now reconciled and since the incident in April had been on holiday together.

Lisa Worsley, prosecuting, said that on the night of the incident Miss Wickers had gone to the Fountain pub, Accrington Road, Blackburn, to get her work keys from Ainsworth. He followed her to the car park and she stood near some girls because she felt safer. He kicked the wing mirror of her car before grabbing her and throwing her face down to the ground. He pushed her down with his foot, picked her up by the hair and dragged her. He kicked her feet from under her.

"He again picked her up by the hair and slammed her against the car," said Ms Worsley. "Two of the girls were trying to stop him."

Ainsworth was stopped by his friends who had come out of the pub and Miss Wickers drove straight to the police station and reported the incident.

Half-an-hour after she got home from the police station Miss Wickers had gone to bed when she heard banging at the front door. She knew it would be Ainsworth and immediately told her daughter to hide under the bed. She phone the police, convinced that Ainsworth was going to force his way into the house and attack her again. Miss Wickers put the lights on and came downstairs and Ainsworth became more enraged.

Safdar Ashraf, defending, urged the magistrates to follow the recommendation of a pre-sentence report and impose a probation order.