A BURNLEY community warden left his wife with a fractured shoulder after punching her to the floor during a late night row, a court heard.

Ex-soldier and security guard David Bullen, 54, hit his wife Christine in the face during the incident, in January, Burnley Crown Court was told.

The defendant, of Rennie Street, Burnley, is employed by Burnley Council to carry out town centre safety patrols. He is accused of assault causing actual bodily harm and denies the charge.

Christine, 50, a manager at Wood Top sheltered housing complex in Harcourt Street, Burnley, told the jury the assault left her in agony.

But the defendant said his wife drank heavily and had made up the 'evil' allegations.

Rachel Woods, prosecuting, said the Bullens, who have been married to each other twice and are currently getting divorced again, had been for a night out to the Hob and Gill club in Burnham Gate on January 10. She said the couple had argued in the club and on the way home which resulted in Dave Bullen storming off.

He was waiting back at the flat Mrs Bullen occupied at the sheltered housing complex and the row continued there until she asked her husband to leave, the court heard.

Ms Woods said: "He turned and punched her in the face. It was a hard punch and, as a result, she fell to the floor and ended up with marks to her face and a broken shoulder."

Christine Bullen said: "I followed him to the door and he hit me in the face. I fell against the corner of the wall. I was in pain, real agony."

Her mother, Joan Sumner, told how she found her "in a terrible state."

Mrs Sumner said she saw a pool of blood in the couple' s bedroom and splashes on the wall of their flat.

When questioned, the defendant told police he did not know how his wife got hurt as he had left her at the door of their flat and walked away.

He said she had had between eight and 10 double brandies in just over two hours and had been unsteady on her feet.

Bullen told officers his wife had fallen over "paralytic" in their home five months before, had shown residents bruises and had joked he had done it. The defendant claimed his wife once broke her arm several years ago falling off a table she was dancing on in Blackpool.

Questioned by his barrister Tim Ashmole, the defendant said the night of the alleged offence he had walked away. He told the jury: "That's the only crime I committed, walking away from my wife. Thats why I am here today."

Bullen denied entering the flat. He said he had thought his wife was "sleeping it off," but phoned his daughter who told him his wife was making an accusation of violence against him.

He said he and Mrs Bullen had not spoken since and he had gone to live with his father.

The defendant, who said he had attended the police station voluntarily, added: "When my wife drinks brandy, she looks all right and then it hits her. Then its hell for everyone around her for two hours." Mr Ashmole asked: "Were you responsible for her injuries?" Bullen: "No."

Cross-examined by Rachel Woods, prosecuting, the defendant claimed he had been a domestic violence victim. He went on :"But I am a man and what man wants to admit they are being beaten up by his wife?"

(Proceeding)