A woman whose partner “launched” himself at her and strangled her feared that she would pass out, magistrates were told.

Despite that violence, Karl Ingleton's victim, his fiancee of two years Leanne Irwin, made a statement in which she told police she did not want him to be prosecuted.

Ingleton, 31, of Duke Street, Carlisle, has admitted a common assault on his partner Leanne Irwin.

Prosecutor Peter Kelly told magistrates sitting at the city's Rickergate courts complex that the couple had been out drinking on September 27 before they eventually returned home.

Ingleton had been rolling a cigarette in the living room. Miss Irwin then asked him for the tobacco.

“He then simply launched himself at her, putting his right hand around her throat and squeezing tightly,” said Mr Kelly.

"She said she felt like she was going to pass out during the struggle.”

Her friend who was also in the house rang the police.

The entire incident lasted about two minutes and afterwards, the victim's neck was red.

“I could see the anger in his eyes,” the victim later told police, explaining that she was able to break free.

She said that she had known Ingleton for six years and they had been engaged for two.

But in a second statement, said Mr Kelly, Miss Irwin had asked to retract her original statement, saying she did not want him to be charged.

She said: “He's a good dad and only behaves like this when he's drinking.

"I don't want to split up with him. I'd have him back.”

The court heard that there are offences on the defendant's criminal record, including a previous assault.

Sara Budniak, for Ingleton, said the defendant's issues were all linked to his problem with alcohol.

His recollection of the assault on his partner was hazy but he had accepted his guilt, despite Miss Irwin wanting to retract her statement.

“He has referred himself to two separate organisations,” said the lawyer, explaining how Ingleton had sought help for his drinking.

He had also referred himself to a domestic violence course, and had now been going to Unity, the drug and alcohol service, for three months.

"He's an alcoholic," said Miss Budniak. "But none of the previous violent offences on his record have been in respect of his partner."

Magistrates fined Ingleton £800 and imposed a 12 month community order, specifying that the defendant must complete a 22 hour "building better relationships" course.

He must also pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of the same amount.