A FATHER has been jailed for 12 months after he subjected his partner to a sustained assault which saw him kick and punch her in front of their child.

Brendan Burke, prosecuting, outlined that the defendant had been out with his partner Natalie at a friend’s address celebrating a friend’s birthday.

Aaron Paul Devaney, of Abbey Street in Carlisle, had gone outside and began to overhear a conversation between his partner and some female friends.

“He overheard one of them discussing the Beyonce song Single Ladies. He mistook his partner as telling them she was a single lady,” Mr Burke told the court.

“He knocked her phone out of her hand and the house owner asked her to leave. Natalie returned to the address and there was no further trouble at that address. When she got home with their three-year-old at about 1.50am, he became irate again.”

This time he smashed the television. The total value of the damage caused that night was £778.

He then threatening to “smash the house”, Mr Burke explained.

He then smashed an oil burner and a glass that was being used to hold flowers.

Devaney then began to attack his partner in view of their child, pushing her to the floor.

“He set about kicking her to the head and face,” continued Mr Burke.

“She was terrified, she thought he was going to kill her.”

Mr Burke said the victim was so frightened she lost control of her bladder.

The attack continued until she managed to crawl to safety and shout for help. Police found Devaney hiding nearby and he was arrested.

During his time in custody he answered “no comment” to questions put forward by detectives.

Devaney admitted criminal damage, possession of cannabis and assault causing actual bodily harm at Carlisle Crown Court yesterday.

He has two previous convictions for similar offences in 2014.

The victim sustained a black eye and her right eye was extremely swollen and bloodshot.

Paul Tweddle, defending, said Devaney had "never laid a hand on the victim before tonight and they had been together for four years".

Mr Tweddle told the court Devaney was struggling with mental health problems at the time.

Recorder Katherine Pierpoint jailed Devaney for 12 months, saying: “This is so serious only an immediate custodial sentence” is suitable.