THE son of a magistrate headbutted his partner then cleaned up the blood on her face using a scourer.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Matthew David Bennett, 36, later bit his partner leaving teeth marks on her arm.

The court heard that while he pleaded guilty, Bennett did not accept the prosecution case in its entirety.

But a district judge ruled he did not have to hear evidence about the incident because Bennett had accepted the bite.

Bennett, of New Barn Close, Haslingden, admitted assaulting Denise Allen causing her actual bodily harm. He was bailed for reports.

Stephanie Varle, prosecuting, said the incident happened on Saturday, January 21 at 7.45pm when Miss Allen was having a bath. Bennett came into the room and got hold of her round the throat. She got away and went into the bedroom but Bennett followed and started shouting at her.

“He head butted her and blood immediately started to pour from her nose,” said Miss Varle. “He left the room and returned with a scouring pad which he used to try and rub the blood away from her face. During the struggle they fell to the floor where he bit her hard on the arm.”

Miss Varle said it had been a prolonged incident and Bennett had deliberately caused more harm to Miss Allen when he bit her.

“The crown say this attack crosses the custody threshold,” said Miss Varle.

Keith Rennison, defending, said Bennett claimed the contact with his head was accidental and that Bennett belie- ved he had grabbed a sponge from the bathroom to try to clean up the blood.

“The bite on the arm was a petulant act and he pleads guilty on that basis,” said Mr Rennison, who revealed that Bennett’s father, a “well respected” Burnley magistrate, was in court.

District Judge James Prowse said he was leaving all sentencing options open including custody and committal to the Crown Court for sentence.