A MORECAMBE man viciously beat his girlfriend following an argument, a court has heard.

James Bellamy, 23, from Albert Road, appeared at Lancaster Magistrates Court charged with grievous bodily harm. The court heard how he had been out with Melissa Kay Handley when she returned alone to their flat following an argument.

Because Bellamy had refused to hand over the keys, Handley had been forced to smash a window in order to gain access.

He returned in the early hours of the morning being abusive and threatening. Roy Walker, for the prosecution, told how Bellamy shouted: "What were you doing smashing the window!", after which he smashed a glass vase against the wall.

When Handley tried to reach for the telephone, he pushed her against a wall before punching her on the side of the face. He then put his hands around her neck as if to strangle her. In an act of self-defence she reached for a piece of broken glass and held it to his throat. A scuffle took place, wherein Bellamy administered repeated blows to his girlfriend's face and body.

The court heard how, at one point, he was wielding a kitchen knife, from which Handley received a cut to the arm. She managed to escape and fled to her parents house and was later taken to hospital with a broken cheekbone, fractured jaw and extensive bruising, as well as the cut to her arm.

Mr Bellamy, meanwhile, remained at the flat overnight and surrendered himself to the police the following morning.

Speaking in court, Mr Roy Walker described the scene of the crime as the police had seen it. Reading from the police reports, he said: "There was glass and blood everywhere", and later on: "There were copious amounts of blood throughout the flat."

In Bellamy's defence, Miss Jennifer Knowles said that his previous record did not indicate a history of violence. She told the court how he had admitted punching Miss Handley once but denied repeatedly striking her or holding a knife.

Judges allowed Bellamy conditional bail and the case was adjourned until July 20 when he will appear at Preston Crown Court for sentencing.

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