A 22-year-old man punched, head butted and kicked his partner during a Christmas Day domestic, a court was told.

Blackburn magistrates heard that when Carly Miller complained that she felt dizzy Paul Laycock slapped her on the other side of her face and said: "That should sort it out."

The court heard that he had earlier broken his games console in a fit of temper and said he needed to break something belonging to Miss Miller.

"At that stage he went outside and took hold of the cat by the throat," said Pat Bramley, prosecuting.

Laycock, of Whalley Road, Clitheroe, pleaded guilty to assaulting Carly Miller. He was remanded on bail until February 11 for the preparation of pre-sentence reports.

Miss Bramley said the altercation started on Christmas Day and in the first flare up he slapped Miss Miller a couple of times and then head butted her. That was followed by the incident with the cat.

"In the early hours of the morning she was head butted and slapped again," said Miss Bramley. "He then kicked and punched her to the left side of her body as the argument continued. When Miss Miller complained of feeling dizzy he slapped her on the other side of the face and said that should sort it out. At one stage he put a pillow over her face and said: "If I wanted to kill you, I could."

Michael Blacklidge, defending, said the couple had been together for 18 months and during last year set up home together.

He said the couple had taken on a mortgage and had stretched themselves financially. Shortly after, Laycock was put on short time.

"The money they had banked on wasn't coming in," said Mr Blacklidge. "As Christmas approached they were both off work with 'flu and for their first Christmas together there were disputes over whether they should go to her parents, his parents or stay at home alone. It wasn't something they settled amicably."

Mr Blacklidge said it was accepted that Laycock had behaved dreadfully towards his partner but said it was significant they were now back together.

"They have been living together again since January 9," said Mr Blacklidge. "They have discussed the incident and they wish to move on from it. They are determined to make their relationship work and at the moment things are set fair for them."