A 37-year-old Darwen man subjected his estranged wife to a ferocious beating after finding a photograph of another man on her bedside cabinet.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Deborah Bentley lost count of the number of blows as she was punched repeatedly about the face, head and body and she could taste the blood as it ran inside her mouth.

Mrs Bentley said she was "completely helpless" and thought she was going to die. She eventually ran from the house, coughing up blood, and was taken to the police station after managing to flag down a passing taxi.

Steven Bentley, 37, of Sandon Street, Darwen, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm. He was put on probation for 12 months and ordered to do 100 hours community service. In addition Bentley was ordered to pay £400 compensation to his ex-wife.

Neil White, prosecuting, said the couple had divorced three years ago because of previous incidents of violence. They had resumed their relationship eight months earlier but had separated again.

Two days before Christmas they had met in a takeaway in Darwen and had gone back to her house to eat their supper. Mrs Bentley agreed that he could stay the night and they went to bed but as they undressed she felt that he was getting angry. He then walked round the bed and punched Mrs Bentley in the face.

Stephen Parker, defending, accepted that it was a very serious allegation of assault. He said Bentley had suspected his ex-wife of having a relationship with a man she was working with but she had flatly denied it.