A MAN became angry when his secret' girlfriend reneged on an arrangement for him to walk her home after a karaoke night.

Hyndburn magistrates heard the couple had ignored each other during the night in the Imperial pub, Accrington, because her sister was there and she didn't want her family to know they were still seeing each other.

But after setting off to walk home there was an argument which ended with Nicola Slack running back to the pub after being shaken and struck in the face.

John Eric George Southworth, 54, of Ennerdale Avenue, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to assaulting Miss Slack. He was sentenced to four months in prison suspended for 18 months, made subject to community supervision for 18 months and ordered to pay £150 costs.

Philippa White, prosecuting, said the row started near King Street and Miss Slack tried to walk away to diffuse the situation. She was grabbed from behind and while Southworth had hold of her and shook her she received several blows to the face.

"She stumbled and just remembers being pushed and pulled about and blows to her face," said Mrs White.

"She ran back to the Imperial and a taxi was ordered to take her home from where she phoned the police."

Bernard Horne, defending, said the guilty plea was entered on the basis that there had been no deliberate punches and he had not spat in Miss Slack's face.

He said the relationship between Southworth and Miss Slack had ended in 2005 but they had continued seeing each other secretly because she didn't want her family to know.