A MAN bit his mother-in-law's thumb until it bled profusely when she tried to drag him off her ex-husband.

Blackburn magistrates heard that when Norma Latham used her other hand to prise her thumb free Damian Philip Berry, 21, bit her on the finger.

Berry, of Dukes Brow, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm, threatening to destroy property and affray on April 16 and criminal damage and being drunk and disorderly on April 29.

He was made subject to a community supervision order for 24 months with a condition he attends the domestic violence programme.

Pat Bramley, prosecuting, said all the offences related to the family of Berry's ex-partner, Allison. The first offences came late at night after they had bumped into him while on a night out.

Berry followed the family home and became abusive and aggressive and then threatened to petrol bomb their house. Allison told him to go away but instead he started to throw stones at the windows.

"Her father went out and was attacked by Berry who dragged him down by his hair," said Miss Bramley. "Mrs Latham then tried to pull him off and was bitten on the thumb of her right hand and the ring finger of her left hand."

Mrs Latham told police: "I could feel blood running from my finger and he wouldn't let go."

Two weeks later Berry returned to the house in a drunken state and threw a brick through the window.

He told police he had taken 30 Valium tablets, two bags of heroin, £20 worth of crack cocaine and two bottles of cider and some lager. He said he couldn't remember much about the incident.

Roger Pickles, defending, said previously Berry, Allison and her mum had lived together.

"All was not well between mother-in-law and son-in-law," said Mr Pickles. "He remembers grappling with her ex-husband and Norma grabbing his head.

"He also remembers her son arriving in his car which he drove at my client, actually hitting him with the vehicle."

He said Berry had been taking a "ridiculous" amount of drugs and drink at the time. As a result of the incidents Berry had been recalled on a prison licence.

"That probably saved his life," said Mr Pickles. "He is going into residential rehabilitation and is determined to put this period behind him."