A MAN threatened his wife with a baseball bat while demanding she hand over their savings account bank card.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Cathryn Bainbridge was terrified as her husband Stuart, 40, stood over her. Prosecutor Wendy Chappell said Mrs Bainbridge "feared for her life."

Bainbridge, of Olive Lane, pleaded guilty to affray and the case was adjourned until April 7 for the preparation of pre-sentence reports.

Bainbridge was bailed on condition he does not communicate with his wife or go within 200 metres of her home in Holker Street, Darwen.

Mrs Chappell told the court Mrs Bainbridge arrived home from work at 11.30pm one night. Next morning there was discussion about her working pattern and Mrs Bainbridge said that all the time her husband's voice was getting higher. He demanded their joint savings account card snatched her handbag and threw her on to a settee.

"He was leaning over her screaming, with his fists clenched and she thought he was going to attack her," said Mrs Chappell.

"He crouched down and when he stood up he was brandishing a baseball bat."

Mrs Bainbridge gave her husband the card and he left the house and drove off.

Graham Tindall, defending, said Bainbridge, a web page designer, said an argument had developed over "something and nothing" and he had lost his temper.