A DARWEN man has received a conditional discharge after assaulting a woman while trying to retrieve a hammer from her.

Preston Crown Court heard a scuffle broke out between William Holden and Christina Jones over the hammer.

Both had been drinking on July 29 last year when the assault occurred.

There was an argument over property and a row over the hammer.

Miss Sharon Watson, defending, said Holden did not want to use the hammer. He merely wanted it because it belonged to him. "He did not have any intention of using the hammer on her," she said.

It was claimed 48-year-old Holden, of Woodvale Flats, Darwen, suffered a bruised neck after she pulled his tie as hard as she could.

The court heard that he lost the buttons on his shirt during the scuffle.

Judge Ian Webster granted Holden a six month conditional discharge and ordered him to pay £300 prosecution costs.

The defendant admitted to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

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