A ROW which started as a couple drove home from McDonald's ended with a woman being dragged from the car by her hair and repeatedly kicked, a court was told.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Deborah Reeves had tried to lock herself in the car, but Mark Hawthornthwaite reached in and banged her head against the window before dragging her out.

Hawthornthwaite, 36, of Newton Street, Darwen, pleaded guilty to assault. He was made subject to a community supervision order for two years, with a condition he attends a domestic violence programme. He was also ordered to pay £75 compensation.

Catherine Allan, prosecuting, said the couple were leaving McDonalds, at Lower Darwen, when an argument started.

She said: "He began to throw food at her and then slapped her with one hand, while still steering the car with the other.

"When they got to Newton Street he got out and she locked the door behind him, but the passenger window was open.

"He reached in and grabbed her by the hair and started banging her head against the window,

"He dragged her on to the pavement and started kicking her on the legs."

Richard Prew, defending, said that Miss Reeves had now retracted her evidence, and there was now a tentative reconciliation.