A MOTHER suffered a broken jaw when she was punched by her estranged partner as she tried to prevent him going upstairs to their children, a court was told.

Blackburn magistrates heard Martin Peter Trueman was already subject to a court injunction preventing him from approaching Amanda Farran or her home and had been jailed for six months for breaching the order.

Trueman, 20, of Thomas Street, Oswaldtwistle, admitted causing Miss Farran grievous bodily harm.

He was committed to Preston Crown Court for sentencing after the magistrates ruled their powers of punishment were insufficient.

Wendy Chappell, prosecuting, said the injunction was imposed in August and on September 27, Trueman, who was clearly drunk, walked into her home and began shouting and screaming abuse at her.

She stepped in front of him to prevent him going upstairs to the children.

"He punched her hard to the side of her face and before she realised what had happened he punched her again, knocking her across the living room," said Mrs Chappell.

Clare Knight, defending, said Trueman had been drinking but accepted everything that had been said.

"He went round just wanting to see his children," said Mrs Knight.