A man who headbutted his partner on Christmas Eve could be facing a jail sentence.

John Hughes (36), formerly of Mersey Drive, Whitefield, admitted assaulting Jacqui Wall and also possessing a small amount of cannabis, a Class C drug.

Magistrates at Bury adjourned the case for pre-sentence reports with all options, including imprisonment, to be taken into consideration.

Hughes, who was granted bail subject to residence at an address in Glenboro Avenue, Bury, and not entering Mersey Drive in Whitefield, will return to court to be sentenced on February 11.

Mr Ian Walsh, prosecuting, said Hughes and mother-of-three Mrs Wall had been in a relationship for three years.

On Christmas Eve she went out shopping and returned to find Hughes lying drunk on the bed.

There was a row during which Hughes headbutted the complainant in the mouth. He left the premises, but later returned and began banging on the door.

The police were called and Hughes was arrested. At the police station he was searched and found to have a small amount of cannabis, which, it was accepted, was for his use.

Defending solicitor Miss Lucy Ashton said Hughes, a former joiner, had declined to go shopping on Christmas Eve and had been drinking instead.

When his partner found him she was angry and there was a violent argument.

The complainant was screaming and Hughes wanted her to stop and during the pushing and pulling nodded his head forward and contact was made. It had been reckless and not deliberate.

Miss Ashton said the relationship was almost certainly over and Hughes accepted he had an alcohol problem. He had contacted Alcoholics Anonymous to rectify a problem which he felt was destroying his life and caused his relationship to be over.