A Bradford man who held his girlfriend underwater in the bath until she lost consciousness has pleaded guilty to assaulting her.

Justin Benn, 37, attacked Stacey Brigg at her home in Yeadon in July.

He later attacked another woman he befriended after being granted bail for the first offence.

Benn, of Yewdall Way, Thorpe Edge, Bradford, was due to stand trial at Leeds Crown Court today on a charge of assault causing actual bodily harm. But he changed his plea to guilty.

His barrister, Andrew Lees, asked for the case to be adjourned for pre-sentence reports and said it was appropriate to also ask for a psychiatric report as Benn had been committed for sentencing on a similar assault.

Mr Lees said a mental health counsellor from Bradford NHS Trust had attended court.

He said the defendant was in custody for the second offence and asked the judge, The Recorder David Hatton QC, to revoke his bail.

Mr Recorder Hatton told Benn the court needed to know more about him before sentencing. He remanded him in custody until the sentencing hearing in February.

After the hearing a detective from Weetwood CID said Benn had assaulted Miss Brigg at her home in Yeadon.

He said: "He held her under the water in the bath until she lost consciousness. When she came round he dragged her out of the bath and further assaulted her by punching her about the head."

He said Benn was granted bail by magistrates and while on bail committed a strikingly similar offence within a new relationship.

He was remanded in custody and pleaded guilty to that offence at the first opportunity, the officer said.

Benn will also be sentenced for that matter in February.