A DRUG dealer has been jailed for driving at his girlfriend, headbutting her and slamming her head against a car.

Christopher Astley was arrested after launching the attack in the middle of a busy road, Bolton Crown Court heard.

The defendant had been arguing with Megan Lomax, his girlfriend, the night before, but they had made up before the attack.

But the couple again began to argue while Astley drove her MG ZR car near the University of Bolton on a Saturday afternoon in February.

Ms Lomax got out of the car, but soon after, witnesses saw 29-year-old Astley driving straight at his victim on the wrong side of Derby Street at up to 40mph.

Bolton Crown Court heard Ms Lomax jumped out of the way of the car and it stopped on a grass verge.

Joanna Rodikis, prosecuting, said witness John Newlove said Astley was “acting as though he was fighting another man”.

Astley punched Ms Lomax then “launched her head” into the car’s frame. They then walked off together, leaving the car.

Police found 39 wraps of heroin and 21 wraps of crack cocaine worth nearly £1,000 in the car.

Paul Tonge, defending, said the couple had been in a relationship for about a year. Astley has become a “surrogate father” for Ms Lomax’s five-year-old daughter.

Ms Lomax was in court supporting her partner.

Astley took out a loan with an old school friend after getting into financial troubles and resorted to dealing drugs to pay the money back.

Mr Tonge said: “The defendant was given a quantity of drugs, was told to go out and come back with the cash, and in due course his debt would be erased. He almost made it but he didn’t.”

He told police he had headbutted Ms Lomax and was said to be sorry for his actions.

Astley has previous convictions for arson and driving offences.

Recorder Paul O’Brien said: “You were arrested later in the day, you admitted assaulting Ms Lomax and also admitted dealing in class A drugs.”

Astley, of Filton Avenue, Deane, admitted wounding Ms Lomax, dangerous driving and two counts of supplying class A drugs.

He was jailed for 48 months. He was also banned from driving for 18 months.