A FATHER attacked his ex-partner in front of their two children because she had been partying all weekend, a court was told.

Lee Barnett, 23, accused Gemma Walmsley of going out while he had looked after their baby.

He refused to give the child back to her, but finally handed him over to a police officer, Burnley magistrates heard.

Jobless Barnett, of Kinross Street, Burnley, admitted assault.

He was given a community order with 12 months supervision and 100 hours unpaid work.

Elizabeth Read, prosecuting, said Miss Walmsley was at home when Barnett arrived, pushing their nine-month-old child in a pram.

He called the victim lazy, accused her of partying and then punched her in the head.

She said he continued to hit the victim as her four-year-old child sat next to her on the sofa screaming and crying.

Mrs Read said Barnett then took the baby in his arms and threatened to torch the house with Miss Walmsley in it.

The prosecutor said officers arrived and Barnett was crying. He handed the infant over and said he knew he should not have hit his former girlfriend.

David Leach, defending, said Barnett apologised to the victim for her injuries. He would say he simply lost control after Miss Walmsley made a comment over custody of the baby. He accepted resorting to violence solved nothing.

Mr Leach said the defendant, who was of limited academic achievement, was embarrassed and ashamed he had used violence to that degree.