A woman fled from her house shouting that her husband had a knife and asking a neighbour to call the police.

Blackburn magistrates heard that when he was arrested, Mark Ackers offered the police officers £2,000 each to let him go and then upped the offer to £3,000.

Ackers, 40, of Meadowhead Drive, Rishton, pleaded guilty to assaulting Jemma Ackers. He was remanded on bail for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Malcolm Isherwood, prosecuting, said Ackers had been to a football match and then visited several pubs before meeting his wife and children in Rishton Cricket Club.

"She didn't want to go to another pub which upset him," said Mr Isherwood.

"They went home and there was an emotional argument. During that he grabbed her arm while she was cutting bread and slapped her across the face.

"She fled from the address, leaving the children behind, and shouted at her neighbour to call the police."

Gareth Price, defending, said it was accepted there were aggravating features and that the magistrates would require a pre-sentence report.