A MAN who agreed to babysit for his former partner blew his top when she did not come home until 10am the following morning.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Richard James Farren took their baby from Annette McCammon's arms before launching a frenzied attack on her and the property.

At one stage, a television fell off the top of a wardrobe missing the 10-month-old child by inches and a wardrobe door, thrown by Farren, caught the child, cutting its lip.

Farren, 23, of Marlton Road, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to affray and criminal damage. He was made subject to an 18 month community rehabilitation programme, with a focus on anger management and ordered to pay £300 compensation.

Eddie Harrison, prosecuting, said that when Miss McCammon came home there was an argument and Farren accused her of sleeping with other men.

He started rocking the wardrobe and the television set fell, narrowly missing the child who was sitting on the floor. He then ripped the door off the wardrobe and threw it across the room, causing the cut on the baby's lip.

Miss McCammon took hold of the child to comfort it but Farren snatched it away and took it to another room.

He then dragged her back into the bedroom by her bra strap before 'dragging' her round the room 'like a doll.' He tore off her top and bra before throwing her on the bed.

"At that stage he sat on her and began to strangle her and Miss McCammon said he was squeezing her so hard that she was struggling to breathe," said Mr Harrison. "He began to rant and rave that it was all Miss McCammon's fault and then punched the bedroom door, leaving it hanging off its hinges."

Miss McCammon put on a dressing gown and managed to run down the stairs and across the road to raise the alarm.

When she went back, Farren, who had smashed up another door and the telephone, was putting the baby in its pram.

Richard Prew, defending, said the couple had been in a relationship for two years and while Miss McCammon had not been specific about the cause of the argument, his client knew exactly what it was about.

"She had asked him to baby-sit and then stayed out all night," said Mr Prew. "At that time they were still sleeping together."