A DRUNKEN young dad who headbutted his estranged partner's friend has been sent to prison for nine months.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Alan Edwards struck Linda Bradley once on the nose and pursued her into the kitchen where he asked her if she wanted some more. He then hit her again, this time in the eye.

Ms Bradley, who was suspected to have suffered a broken bone, received bruising and had to have three stitches after the attack.

Sentencing the defendant, Judge Raymond Bennett said headbutting people was becoming quite a prevalent offence. It was a very unpleasant thing to do and even more unpleasant when a man did it to a woman.

Edwards, 27, of Hamer Avenue, Blackburn, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and possessing cannabis.

William Staunton, prosecuting, said the defendant went to the home of his estranged partner, mother of three Paula King, in Nuttall Street, Accrington. Linda Bradley, who had met Ms King at a women's refuge, was there.

Edwards burst into the lounge in a rage and the complainant asked him to calm down as she feared he would hit Ms King. Edwards told her to shut up and to keep her nose out of it and then deliberately headbutted Ms Bradley in the face, causing her nose to bleed.

She went into the kitchen, saying the defendant should not hit a woman and the defendant pursued her, asking her if she wanted some more. He then headbutted her again, shouted to Paula King: "It's either her or me," and left. He was quite clearly drunk.

Mr Staunton said Ms Bradley needed three stitches, and was at first thought to have suffered a broken bone, but she did not attend the fracture clinic.

Mark Stuart, defending, said Edwards had been remanded in custody since July 12 and was realistic about what would happen to him. He knew behaviour of this sort would not be tolerated by the court and that he would be going to custody.

His relationship with his co-habitee had been on and off and drink played a part, in relation to both him and her. When both were sober, they were perfectly decent and respectable, but from the point of view of committing offences, when they were in drink they did. Another dispute between the two led to an innocent party getting tangled up in it.

Mr Stuart said the court would have seen records with far more violence on them than the defendant's. The incident lasted a short period of time and he had pleaded guilty.