A 47-year-old north Cumbrian man has admitted assaulting his former partner – though he claimed he was retaliating after she struck the first blow.

Timothy Messenger pleaded guilty to an assault causing actual bodily harm. He also admitted causing criminal damage to a vase at the woman’s home in Kirkby Thore on March 13.

Peter Kelly, prosecuting, said Messenger, of Raughton Head, was in a relationship with the woman for eight years.

They split in December but remained friends, Carlisle’s Rickergate Magistrates’ Court heard.

She had said alcohol was a problem within the relationship, said Mr Kelly.

On Friday, March 13, the defendant and the woman were socialising and then returned at 11.30pm to her home.

“They’d been out for drinks and went out for a meal,” said Mr Kelly.

The woman told police Messenger had continued drinking and she became concerned at the way things were developing.

She decided to go to bed and once upstairs she heard him shout that he had whisky in the car.

Mr Kelly said: “She was dozing off to sleep and was uncertain how long she was there.

“The next thing she knew she woke up in fear for her life. She was being attacked by the defendant.”

She described suffering a “barrage of punches” to her face and head. She was left with multiple cuts and bruises.

She told police: “Once he started hitting, it seemed like he didn’t want to stop.” She said the attack left a pool of blood on the bedroom carpet.

Rachel Dixon, for Messenger, said he had entered his guilty plea to the assault causing actual bodily harm on the basis that he did not do several of the things alleged in the prosecution case.

She said he did not go to the car for whisky; and when he and the woman went to bed she had ‘hit him on the head’ because he had wanted to go to sleep and she had not, said the lawyer.

“He retaliated by hitting her two or three times,” said the lawyer.

He denied the woman’s claim that he grabbed her by the throat.

Miss Dixon added: “He does regret the offences of that night and he is deeply sorry for inflicting the injuries on [the victim].”

Magistrates imposed 20 weeks jail but suspended the sentence for 18 months.

Messenger must do 100 hours of unpaid work, complete 25 rehabilitation activity days, pay his victim £200 compensation and pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £122.