A man hit his partner with a pool cue with such force the implement snapped in a vicious domestic attack.

Blackburn Magistrates' Court heard Callum Broadhurst went on to hit his partner on the leg and then used it to smash a window.

Broadhurst, 25, of no fixed address but from Burnley, pleaded guilty to assault causing actual bodily harm, criminal damage and possession of cannabis.

He was sentenced to six months in prison suspended for 18 months with conditions that he complete the Building Better Relationships Programme, a 20-day rehabilitation activity requirement, and 150 hours unpaid work.

He was ordered to pay the victim £150 compensation.

Deputy District Judge Kate Harney said the offence was serious and was aggravated by the fact Broadhurst had been cautioned by police just weeks earlier following an incident involving the same victim.

“That should have been your warning but four weeks later you upped the ante,” said Deputy District Judge Harvey.

“You assaulted her with a pool cue and hit her so hard that it snapped.”

Carl Gaffney, prosecuting, said at the time of the incident, on March 8, the victim was the defendant’s ex-partner but they were still living in the same house.

He came home at 7am and she questioned him about where he had been.

“He replied that he was 25 years old, she was not his mum and to stop keeping tabs on him,” said Mr Gaffney.

“She said she didn’t want him in her house any more and he responded by picking up the pool cue.”

Mr Gaffney said Broadhurst went to strike the victim and she raised her hand to protect herself.

“The cue hit her hand and it snapped,” said Mr Gaffney.

“He hit her again on the arm and on the leg before going into the back garden and smashing the living room window.

"He then grabbed her by the hair and dragged her down while trying to knee her in the face.

“This all happened while their two children were at the house.”

Mr Gaffney said the victim had told police she didn’t want a restraining order because she wanted him to have an input into the lives of their children.

“She also said he needed help with his drink problem rather than any custodial punishment,” said Mr Gaffney.

Mark Williams, mitigating, said his client accepted that when he came home at 7am he reacted in a wholly inappropriate manner to her questions.

“The injuries were not serious but it was made worse because he had been cautioned just four weeks earlier,” said Mr Williams.