A 31-year-old man who given community service after attacking his then partner did less than a third of it - and is now behind bars.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Nicholas Couldwell had been depressed and agoraphobic when his world "stopped" after his baby daughter was put up for adoption.

Sentencing him to 21 days in jail, Judge Raymond Bennett said the 40 hour order had been an alternative to a custodial sentence and he had only himself to blame.

Couldwell of Meadoway, Church, had earlier pleaded guilty to common assault and admitted breach of a community service order.

Mark Stuart, prosecuting for the Probation Service, said Couldwell had done 14 hours of the 40 hour order.

He had assaulted his then girlfriend Catherine Francis after he had a lot to drink. A row had developed and Couldwell had grabbed her by the hair and dragged her around the house.

He then punched her with a clenched fist leaving her bruised and told police she had had a go at him.

William Staunton, for Couldwell, said both the defendant and his girlfriend had been drinking and she had wanted to know if he had any love bites on his body. Couldwell, who had a plastic eye, had been poked in his good eye and lost his rag and lashed out.