A man has been jailed for visiting his partner in the Royal Blackburn Hospital.

Blackburn magistrates heard Richard O’Brien was banned from having any contact with his partner for 28 days under a domestic violence protection order.

O’Brien, 40, of Norfolk Grove, Church, pleaded guilty to breaching the order and was jailed for 14 days.

Passing sentence, Deputy District Judge Roger Lowe said it was a flagrant breach of the order.

“I feel I have no option other than to impose a custodial sentence on you,” he added.

Samantha Myers, prosecuting, said O’Brien had originally been arrested in relation to strangulation, threats to kill and throwing an ashtray at his partner.

“She did not support the prosecution so no further action was taken,” said Mrs Myers.

“An application was made for a domestic violence protection order and the court was satisfied he had been violent or threatened violence towards her.”

Mrs Myers said O’Brien was arrested at Royal Blackburn Hospital, where his partner was an in-patient, three weeks after the order was made.

“We say this isn’t an isolated breach,” said Mrs Myers.

“Nurses on the ward said they had seen him visit on previous occasions.”

Gareth Price, defending, said his client's partner had been admitted to hospital because of concerns over her heart and while she was there she suffered two cardiac arrests.

“She ended up in the intensive care unit where she was initially visited by her mother,” said Mr Price.

“That lady has her own mobility problems and she contacted my client and asked if he could take some items to the hospital.”

He said O’Brien agreed and accepted that he had spent some time with her.

“She was reluctant to undergo a procedure without someone sitting with her and he agreed to stay and support her,” said Mr Price.

“Had she not been in hospital and very ill he would have stayed away.”