A 37-YEAR-OLD man who assaulted his partner in the early hours of New Year's Day asked to be kept in custody so he could address his alcohol problem.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Mark Anthony Murray could not remember the incident involving his girlfriend and her pregnant daughter.

And Roger Pickles, defending, said his client accepted he had a drink problem which he needed to tackle before he could move on with his life.

Murray, of Fishmoor Drive, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to assaulting Caroline Holt and damaging a kitchen window belonging to her.

He was remanded in custody until January 19 for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Claire Fanning, prosecuting, said the couple had been out together, but returned home separately.

She said Miss Holt was chatting with her daughter when Murray burst into the bedroom and slapped her across the face.

Miss Holt left with her daughter and returned to his mother's house where they had spent the evening, she said.

They went home at 2.30am hoping that things would have calmed down, but Murray wasn't there, the court was told. "At about 4am he appeared outside and began banging on the door," said Miss Fanning.

"They were both frightened to death, and she was particularly concerned for her daughter who was 10 weeks pregnant."

Mr Pickles said he had suggested a bail hostel place to his client, but he had instructed him not to apply for bail.

"Hostels have regulations about drinking and he felt he would be setting himself up for a fall," said Mr Pickles.

"He says, at the moment, he would not have been able to comply with the rules.

"This offence was not at the top end of the scale, but clearly there are issues."