A MOMENT of passion on a nightclub car park started a chain of events that eventually landed Milton Iddon in court.

Blackburn magistrates heard that he bumped into his one-night-stand partner eight months later on Accrington fish market -- by which time she had a bump of her own.

But after doing the "decent" thing and taking Belinda Sellers and her two older children into his home, Iddon was eventually told during an argument that the baby's father could have been any one of five men.

Iddon, 45, of Ulverston Close, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to assaulting Belinda Sellers. He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £120 costs. The magistrates made no order for compensation to Miss Sellers.

Teresa Feeley, prosecuting, said at the time of the offence Miss Sellers had a baby boy and DNA tests were being carried out to establish paternity.

During an argument Iddon grabbed Miss Sellers by the throat and the back of her head and started to squeeze her throat.

Miss Sellers tried to leave the house but Iddon pushed her into a bedroom where she placed the baby on the bed. Iddon pushed her and she landed on top of the child.

"Throughout the incident she was absolutely terrified," said Miss Feeley.

Emma Morrissey, defending, said there was a history which went some way to explaining the incident that started when the couple met for the first time in Utopia nightclub.

"They enjoyed a convivial evening, before going onto the car park where things got passionate," said Miss Morrissey. "As far as my client was concerned that was the end of the matter. But eight months later, when he was talking to a friend on Accrington fish market, he was approached by Miss Sellers who said she was eight months pregnant and that he was the father."