A BLACKBURN man punched his eight months pregnant girlfriend in the face in a row about the bed covers.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Andrew Johnstone was banned from being at his partner's home by bail conditions imposed following an incident when he kicked in the front door.

Johnstone, 25, of Mulberry Walk, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to assaulting Joanne Smith and criminal damage. He was remanded on bail until February 9 after the magistrates ordered the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Charlotte Crane, prosecuting, said Miss Smith said the relationship with Johnstone had become "violent" over the past two years. She said her partner's mood changed when he took drugs which often resulted in him having excess energy.

"On the night of this incident she came home from her mother's at 10.30pm and found him vacuuming," said Miss Crane. She said Miss Smith went to bed but was woken by Johnstone asking for money for tobacco.

He returned later and a row started when he climbed into bed with her.

Michael Blacklidge, defending, said the couple had been together for seven or eight years and the problems had only started in the last two.

He said that following earlier assaults Johnstone had been made subject to community supervision and was due to begin the domestic violence programme in March.