Witness, Leah Thomson, saw the distressed woman being pushed about in the street and offered to drive her to safety.

Presiding magistrate at Blackpool, Simon Bridge, said: "Leah Thomson was a passerby who showed bravery by acting as a Good Samaritan."

Paul Stephenson, 24, of Common Edge Road, Marton, admitted assaulting his girlfriend and damaging Ms Thomson's car and another vehicle.

He was bailed to December 16 by Blackpool magistrates and warned he may be jailed.

Susan Starr, prosecuting, said Ms Thomson saw the defendant in Alexandra Road pushing his girlfriend in the chest. Ms Thomson went to see a relative and when she returned 20 minutes later the couple were still arguing.

Ms Thomson invited the women to get in the car. As she got in, Stephenson punched the bonnet of Ms Thompson's car before smashing the windscreen of another car nearby.

When interviewed by police, the defendant said he had drunk eight cans and 16 bottles of lager over five hours.