A VIOLENT dad who battered his ex-partner just six days after being released from jail has been sent back to prison for two-and-a-half years.

Stephen Crook, aged 47, lashed out at former girlfriend, Lyndsey Potts, when she called at his uncle's home to collect some nappies.

During the row, he sent their seven-month-old daughter's pram crashing to the floor.

Crook, formerly of Market Street, Stoneclough, Bolton, pleaded guilty to wounding and was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday.

The court heard the incident took place on October 25, last year.

Crook was living at his uncle's home in Atherton and when Miss Potts arrived he attacked her.

After repeatedly hitting her in the face, Crook dragged her by the hair into the house and slammed her head against a washing machine.

It was also alleged that he picked up a knife during the assault, but dropped it.

Miss Potts had cuts to her right temple, right cheek and nose and a tooth was dislodged.

Most of her injuries were caused by a large sharp ring that Crook was wearing.

The court heard that he had previous convictions, including for assaulting Miss Potts, and had only been released from jail six days earlier.

Virginia Hayton, defending, said the couple both had had drug problems.

On the day of the incident, he had asked Miss Potts to bring his prescribed medication, but she took it and was falling asleep while walking along pushing their baby.

Crook, who had a difficult childhood and has received psychiatric help, appreciated it was a serious offence, Mrs Hayton said.

Passing sentence, Judge Elizabeth Steel said: "This was a vicious attack.

"The ring you were wearing constituted a weapon because it was so sharp and large that it was able to inflict these nasty injuries.

"You perpetrated this assault in the presence of your seven-month-old child when you flew off the handle."

Judge Steel said that Crook should be sent back to jail because he "constituted a danger".