A MAN has been given a restraining order after pushing his former girlfriend out of a house following an argument.

Peter Raglan appeared before Preston Crown Court after pleading guilty to a single charge of common assault against his ex girlfriend.

Hanifa Patel, prosecuting, said the victim wished for a restraining order following the incident, which happened in Rothesay Road, Blackburn, last September.

Ms Patel said: "On September 10, at around 3.30pm, she and Peter Raglan woke up and became engaged in an argument about money.

"She owed money that Raglan wanted and he began shouting at her.

"The argument lasted around 10 to 15 minutes after which the victim went downstairs and the defendant followed her.

"The defendant had said ‘I wanted her out of the address'.

"He accepted there was excessive force used when he pushed her out of the address’."

The court heard Raglan, now living in Radcliffe Road in Fleetwood, had been in a relationship with his victim for two years.

He had a history of drink, drug and mental health related problems.

Paul Robinson, defending, said his client had been taking medication for his mental health and his condition was stable.

Mr Robinson said: "He had suffered a number of break downs last year.

"He has the potential of employment in the very near future and he has to demonstrate he can stay out of trouble.

"He needs to demonstrate he can live a banal existence.

"The defendant now lives out of the East Lancashire area and has no intentions on revisiting."

The court heard Raglan had been given a suspended sentence for assaulting a man outside a nightclub after his former partner was refused entry.

However the suspended sentence had expired before the incident in September.

Raglan was given a £100 fine, a two-month curfew and a restraining order which means he cannot go near any known residence of his former girlfriend.

Judge Brown said: "You wanted her out of the house.

"You admitted pushing her out of the address.

"I have come to the view my hands are tied. I feel it would be somewhat unfair to send you to prison.

"There will be a restraining order in place with no contact with your former girlfriend and her home address, it will last five years.

"If you were to breach the order you would go to prison immediately.

“The curfew will last two months between 8pm and 8am.

“You really are skating on thin ice it seems to me. You are close to being sent to prison."