NEW Year's Day ended in violence when a drunken engineer beat up his partner of 15 years until she passed out, after a row over party food.

Burnley Magistrates heard how engineer Paul Wilson Blezard, 43, grabbed Karen Grey by the hair, slammed her head against the kitchen door and then dragged her into the living room by her hair -- after she told him to grow up.

Blezard, of Brown Street West, Colne, was fined £400, with £600 compensation and £50 costs, after admitting assault causing actual bodily harm.

The bench told him he had been extremely aggressive and had forcibly prevented his ex-girlfriend from leaving the house.

Nigel Harrison, prosecuting, said the couple had been out in Nelson and an argument erupted after they returned home and the defendant wanted to eat a meal Ms Grey had prepared for friends for later in the day.

Blezard took umbridge when told the food was for later and threw a plate of rice in the sink. Ms Grey remonstrated with the defendant and told him to grow up.

He then attacked her until she passed out and when she came round and tried to phone for help, the defendant grabbed the phone from her .

Ms Grey ran from the back door and Blezard slammed it shut on her left hand.

Mr Harrsion said the victim returned to the lounge to try and alert help on her mobile telephone, but Blezard snatched it from her and stood on it. Ms Grey then dashed to the home of a neighbour and police were called.

Paul Wood, defending, said since the offence, Blezard had moved out of the family home to live with a friend and he accepted the relationship with his former partner was most probably over.