A 51-YEAR-OLD man occasionally sought solace in drink after being diagnosed with a serious illness, a court was told.

Blackburn magistrates heard that after drinking all day on Monday, David Seed attacked his wife of 27 years.

And when her son was alerted by Patricia Seed's screams, the two men ended up struggling.

Seed, of Mosley Street, Blackburn, admitted a breach of the peace. He was bound over in the sum of £100 to keep the peace for six months.

Neil White, prosecuting, said Seed was a man of previous good character.

On the day of the incident he had been drinking and started to make derogatory comments towards his wife.

She tried to humour him and moved into the kitchen but Seed followed, grabbed her by the hair and pulled her head backwards.

"Her son, Darren Miller, heard her screams and came to his mother's assistance," said Mr White. "He was threatened by the defendant and the two men ended up struggling.

"Mr Miller later told police that Seed had recently been diagnosed with a terminal illness and this had led to him drinking."

He said that neither Mrs Seed or her son wanted to make a formal complaint against Seed.

Michael Blacklidge, defending, confirmed his client had recently been diagnosed with an illness that affected his lungs.