A BLACKBURN woman was subjected to a prolonged ordeal after ending the relationship with her partner, a court was told.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Catherine Smith was punched in the face twice by her partner Alan White.

He then tore the telephone wires out of the socket when she tried to call for help, and pursued her to a nearby telephone box and prevented her from calling the police.

White, 26, of Dunoon Drive, Shadsworth, pleaded guilty to assault. He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £100 compensation and £25 costs. Bill Maud, prosecuting, said the incident started when Miss Smith returned home from visiting her daughter and, as she entered the house, saw someone climbing out of a back window.

"She assumed it was one of the defendant's friends, of whom she did not approve," said Mr Maud. "They discussed their problems for an hour-and-a-half before she told him the relationship was over and ordered him out of the house."

He said that in the attack that followed, Miss Smith suffered a split lip and bloody nose, and bruises to the palm of her hand and a dislocated finger where she protected herself from further blows. Roger Pickles, defending, said Smith originated from Northern Ireland, but had been forced to leave because of threats from Loyalist paramilitary organisations.

He added:"They are still together and she is prepared to speak up on his behalf."