A MAN who launched a vicious attack on his wife, leaving her with suspected smashed ribs, has been jailed for eight months.

Burnley Crown Court heard that jobless Paul Whitehead, 36, dragged sobbing victim Karen Whitehead by the hair "like a stone age woman", punched her and kicked her on the ground in the street.

When police arrived, an officer thought Mrs Whitehead, 45, was so seriously injured he could not wait for an ambulance and took her to hospital himself.

The court heard the victim told officers she had been asleep when her husband pulled her outside and dragged her down the street.

The defendant, who had been subject to an Anti-social Behaviour Order at the time, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and breaching the ASBO.

Whitehead, of Hunslett Street, Burnley, was committed on bail to crown court for sentence after magistrates ruled prison was the starting point for the offence.

Earlier this year Karen and Paul Whitehead were made subject to the two-year Anti-social Behaviour Orders after a court found they had allowed the Hale Street property to be used for the supply and use of drugs.

Burnley magistrates said the couple had taken part and allowed others to engage in noisy, rowdy and disorderly conduct in and around the house.

Both agreed to the orders, which will end at midnight on June 27, 2007.

They were warned if they flouted the orders they could face up to five years in jail, a fine or both.