A MAN who attacked his partner in front of her five-year-old daughter was ordered by a magistrate yesterday to stop treating her like a "punchbag".

Philip Robert Vickers, of Rothbury Drive, Darlington, headbutted and punched Deborah Corrie at their home.

Vickers, 25, hung his head at Darlington Magistrates' Court after he admitted assaulting Miss Corrie, causing her actual bodily harm.

Prosecutor David Maddison told how he became angry and lashed out at Miss Corrie after her daughter asked about going to her grandmother's for tea.

Miss Corrie fled to the kitchen after being headbutted, but Vickers, 25, followed, apologised, then attacked her again.

Her mother arrived and the attack stopped. But it began again after she left, with unemployed Vickers using a pushchair to ram his partner, the court heard.

"The five-year-old was crying," said Mr Maddison.

"At some point during the assault her (Miss Corrie's) daughter was struck. She doesn't know how."

A two-week-old baby was also in the house, he said.

"Mr Vickers then asked her to leave. She wasn't allowed to take the children."

Miss Corrie received treatment for extensive injuries after the attack, including bruises to her arms and legs, the court was told.

Vickers told police that he had been angry, but said he could not recall assaulting his partner.

Defence solicitor Michael Rayner said Vickers and Miss Corrie were still together.

"I do believe his partner is actually outside court now waiting for him," he said.

The chairman of the magistrates' bench, Joseph Bulmer, asked Vickers why he had launched the attack on Miss Corrie.

"It must be some kind of anxiety," Vickers replied.

Mr Bulmer told him: "There is a punchbag at the other end of the line and that cannot be accepted."

Vickers was given a two-year community rehabilitation order and ordered to pay £50 prosecution costs.