A THUG who subjected his former partner to a ‘nasty and sustained’ assault following a night out has avoided jail.

Aadam Hussain, 23, pleaded guilty to causing his victim actual bodily harm when he appeared at Preston Crown Court.

The court heard Hussain and his then partner had argued after they had returned home from a night out.

When the complainant escaped, Hussain, of St James’s Street, Blackburn, chased after her in his car.

Hussain, who was under the influence of alcohol at the time, caught up with the woman and subjected her to a beating, from which she sustained a swollen cheek, redness to the forehead and a black eye.

David Clarke, prosecuting, said: “The defendant can be seen driving the car and the complainant is walking along the street.

“The victim approaches the defendant in his car before Mr Hussain gets out and chases her.

“At this point both the defendant and the victim disappear from sight for a few minutes before reappearing. It is then that the defendant can be seen bundling the victim towards his car before he gets in and drives them both away.”

Mr Clarke said the victim said Hussain had punched her and pushed her against a parked vehicle and ‘beaten her all over’.

She then pretended to faint, and that’s when Hussain put her in his car, but she managed to escape before running home, Mr Clarke added.

Paul Hodgkinson, defending, asked for leniency.

He said: “There is nothing I can say about this case that can take away what is undoubtedly an unpleasant incident for the victim, and it is clear there was a degree of aggression and a level of force used by the defendant.

“However, it is an isolated incident and Mr Hussain is a relatively young man with no previous convictions. He is a hard worker and someone who continues to work. He also volunteers in his community and is supported by a large number of family members.

“The relationship between the defendant and the victim is now over and he is shocked at his behaviour.”

Hussain was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to complete 25 days of rehabilitation activity and 200 hours of unpaid work.