A MAN who pulled his partner down by her hair and slapped her in the face was told by magistrates he could have been sent to prison.

Seth Lomax, aged 33, a motor accessories worker, of School Street, Radcliffe, admitted assaulting Miss Lisa Edwards, causing actual bodily harm

After reading reports about the defendant, magistrates at Rochdale decided yesterday to make Lomax subject to 12 months' probation, 100 hours' community punishment, and ordered him to pay £100 compensation and £75 court costs.

The court heard that Miss Edwards, Lomax's common law wife, was asleep at her home in Middleton when he returned and began arguing with her.

He threw the SIM card from her mobile phone out of the window and began slapping her across the face.

He then grabbed her by the hair, dragged her down and pulled down her clothes and slapped her backside three times. She was hit so hard there were weals on her skin.

At that point the youngest child entered the room crying and Lomax stopped. The police were called the next morning.

The court had been told that Lomax had a previous conviction for assaulting the same woman and that there had been other domestic incidents, but since the latest offence Lomax had not seen Miss Edwards and the relationship was over.

On his behalf Mr Ian Mann, defending, pointed out that the relationship had been volatile and because of that the Lomax had his own property in Radcliffe in case there was a separation.

A further charge of indecent assault had been dropped by the prosecution.