A MAN who attacked his partner, pressing a hot iron against her face, has been jailed for 32 weeks.

Robert Khan, 53, had also subjected victim Barbara Moffatt, who suffered scalding burns, to emotional abuse but she wanted him to be treated with lenience and was still with him, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Khan, who has a previous conviction for sinking his teeth into someone's nose, was told by a judge she was not classing him as a dangerous offender, but she said it would be an affront to justice if he was not sent to prison.

Judge Angela Nield said the violence used by the defendant had been particularly worrying and his prolific offending behaviour had continued unabated since he was a child.

The judge said there was undoubtedly a high risk Khan would reoffend and there was certainly a high risk of further abusive conduct by him towards the victim, who was still in a relationship with him.

The judge added although Miss Moffatt, who was not said to have suffered permanent scarring, had pleaded for leniency for her attacker, the courts had to send a message of deterrence to prevent others behaving in such a way and to stop the defendant further offending.

Khan, of Park Avenue, Barnoldswick, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm.

Martin Hackett, defending, said Khan wanted to do a community domestic violence programme.