A VIOLENT thug headbutted and punched his girlfriend in the face after barging his way into her home.

Bolton Crown Court heard how Tyler Lowe flew into a rage, accusing her of seeing other men.

He was jailed for two years and eight months after pleading guilty to causing grievous bodily harm.

But the court heard that his girlfriend did not support the prosecution and they have resumed their relationship.

The woman and Lowe had been in a “volatile” relationship for around six months.

Alexandra Sutton, prosecuting, told how she was at home, watching TV and drinking with her mother and two friends on the evening of May 23.

“Throughout the evening the defendant was messaging her on Facebook alleging that she was cheating on him,” said Miss Sutton.

“She tried ignoring him and in the end, deleted him from her social media site.”

But Lowe then turned up at the house in the early hours of the morning, banging on the door for 15 minutes and demanding to be let in.

Fearing the door would be damaged, the woman opened it and told him to go away, but he barged his way into the living room.

The woman asked a friend to leave, fearing that Lowe would attack him.

“The victim says he appeared to be drunk and they began to argue about cheating,” said Miss Sutton.

Upset at his accusations, the woman slapped Lowe who then headbutted her.

“Although dazed, she immediately felt blood trickle down her face,” said Miss Sutton.

“The defendant punched her again to the face and she shouted for her mum to call the police.”

When officers arrived Lowe, aged 26, of Kingsland Avenue, Farnworth, was wiping blood from her face with a cloth.

The woman was sobbing and Lowe, a self-employed roofer, became aggressive towards police as he was arrested.

An ambulance took the woman to hospital where she needed stitches for a 3cm cut above her right eye and treatment for bruises and swelling.

The Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Martin Walsh was told that Lowe has previous convictions including one for causing grievous bodily harm when he was aged 16.

Nicholas Ross, defending, said the woman has made a good recovery from her injuries and only a slight scarring remains.

“As far as he was concerned he did not go round to the victim’s address intending to commit any violent act, said Mr Ross.

“Ultimately there are no excuses for the way in which he conducted himself, even if he was injured during the altercation.”

Jailing Lowe, Judge Walsh said the offence had been committed by an intoxicated Lowe in “a fit of jealousy”.

He added: “A confrontation, while in drink, was inevitable.”