AN alcoholic assaulted his pregnant partner because she wouldn’t give him money for more booze.

Blackburn magistrates heard the victim fled from her home hoping that Curtis Brooks would go to bed. But when she returned he was still there and after punching her TV until it smashed he started punching her again.

Brooks, 25, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to assault and criminal damage to a TV and a mobile phone. He was jailed for 12 weeks.

Tracy Yates, prosecuting, said the couple had met in a drink and drugs rehabilitation unit and had been together seven months. At the time of the incident she was six months' pregnant.

On the night of the incident Brooks had been drinking cans while watching TV and his partner described him as drunk.

“When he had finished the cans he said he wanted some more but she wouldn’t give him the money,” said Mrs Yates. “He started shouting and being abusive and she went to get dressed to leave the house because she said she didn’t want to listen to him. His response was to punch her and then grabbed her ankles as she tried to kick him away.”

The victim eventually managed to get out of the house and intended to ring her cousin to pick her up but realised she had left her phone in the house. She went back but he had her phone in his hand and threw it against a wall before breaking it in two. “When she went back he damaged the TV before punching her at least three times,” said Mrs Yates.

She said Brooks was subject to prison licence following a custodial sentence imposed for offences of witness intimidation, criminal damage and stalking involving a previous partner.

Imran Hussain, defending, said: “Once he regained his senses he recognised his behaviour was reprehensible, particularly as she was expecting his child. He is deeply ashamed.”