A TEENAGER who assaulted his girlfriend the day after their first holiday together struck in front of his mother, a court was told.

Robin Harrop was said to have been trying to convince victim Vicky Morris an allegation made by her father was not true and got upset when talk turned to the relationship being over.

He had grabbed her nose and mouth, pushed her so she fell and banged her head, refused to let her leave the room, made a cutting gesture across her throat and mouthed to her she was dead. He also left his mother in tears, Burnley magistrates heard.

The court was told how Harrop, 19, who supervised the cleaning staff at the town's Marks and Spencer store, had an "uncontrolled temper tantrum", which could have escalated.

Harrop was angry after Miss Morris's father was said to have claimed he had been threatened because the defendant had vandalised a car.

The defendant wiped away tears in the witness box as his solicitor claimed Miss Morris's father had been trying to split the couple up and told the court Harrop was shocked by his own conduct.

Harrop, of Hall Carr, Rawtenstall, admitted assault by beating and was bailed until December 12 for a pre-sentence report.