A MAN bit his girlfriend on the cheek during an argument which started because she had switched on the clothes dryer while he was still in bed.

Blackburn magistrates were told that Christopher McManamen bitterly regretted the incident which he blamed on psychiatric problems. These had developed after he had part of his ear bitten off during an assault just before Christmas.

McManamen, 26, of Chapel Hill, Longridge, pleaded guilty to assaulting Karina McWilliams. He was ordered to pay her £200 compensation and £55 costs.

Wendy Chappell, prosecuting, said Miss McWilliams and McManamen had lived together for two years along with her five-year-old son.

On the day of the incident she had got up at about 8.30am and decided to put on the dryer which was in her bedroom.

" He was awake in bed and she did not think it would cause any problem," said Mrs Chappell.

"As she left the room he shouted at her and Miss McWilliams switched off the dryer and told him to stop moaning."

As Miss McWilliams went into the hall McManamen came at her, pushed her on to a chair and sat on her before slapping her around the face and biting her on the cheek.

She suffered a split lip, bruising to her cheek and there was a mark below her eye where he had bitten her, although the skin was not broken.

Basharat Ditta, defending, said McManamen had worked hard providing for his girlfriend and her son, whom he treated as his own."

At times he felt he was not being appreciated, as if he could not do enough for her," said Mr Ditta.