A FATHER of five slung a cage with two hamsters across the room and attacked his partner after a half-day drinking session.

Burnley Magistrates heard courier Craig Atkinson, 34, punched his partner of 14 years in the face, splitting her lip, but later told police he could remember little about what went on.

Atkinson, of Grasmere Avenue, Padiham, admitted assault and was conditionally discharged for 12 months.

The court was told the defendant went out drinking with some friends in the early afternoon and returned to his partner's home around midnight.

He seemed drunk and was involved with a row with the victim.

Atkinson picked up a cage containing two hamsters and threw it across the room and also smashed a glass front cabinet belonging to his partner.

He then punched her once with a clenched fist causing minor injuries before his partner fled from the house and police were called.

In an interview, the defendant fully admitted causing the damage but could remember little about the assault on his partner.

Richard Taylor, defending, said Atkinson had been in custody for several hours.

He could not remember if he struck his partner or not, but was quite prepared to admit that if that was what she said he did, he would accept it.

The defendant and his partner lived in separate homes. He looked after two children and she took charge of three.

Mr Taylor said part of the problem within their relationship was that they had not been able to find a house big enough for them all to live in.

Atkinson went out and had a lot to drink and he would say his partner had a lot to drink as well.

He went to her house, the discussion became heated and he just saw red.

Atkinson worked as a courier and was worried he might have lost his job because of the time he had spent in custody.