A CONNAH'S Quay man has admitted assaulting his partner and been handed a two year restraining order.

Peter Kenneth Woodfin, 44, of Dean's Avenue hit his partner, Linda Whaley, an offence which resulted in him breaching the terms of a domestic violence protection order, which had been in place for less than 24 hours.

Rhian Jackson, prosecuting, said that Woodfin had gone to the home of Ms Whaley, his partner of some 27 years, on July 31, with some heroin for them both to share, despite the order instructing him not to do so, being put in place just the day earlier.

Ms Jackson explained how the couple's daughter Chelsea, had woken up at around 11am to find both parents in the kitchen of the property and that an argument quickly ensued after Ms Whaley told him she would have preferred money for food instead.

Ms Jackson went on to say that Ms Whaley knocked the heroin on the floor which resulted in Woodfin becoming angry, raising his hands and him hitting her across the side of her face, which resulted in a fresh cut.

Fiona Larkin, defending, said that Woodfin fully admitted his guilt to the offence and he had only wanted to help them Ms Whaley and that he had become angry after she took too much heroin and then knocked the remainder of it on to the floor.

District Judge Gwyn Jones said he was satisfied the matter was so serious that custody was inevitable in this instance, with the victim being particularly vulnerable and because the offence had taken place during the period of a community order.

However, he acknowledged the issue was complicated by the fact the pair were still in an intimate relationship and that Ms Whaley had not actually made a statement to Police about the incident.

In handing Woodfin an 18 week sentence, suspended for 12 months, District Judge Jones went on to say that he had a duty to ensure Ms Whaley was protected and that Woodfin was not to enter the address on Dean's Avenue for a period of two years.

He said: "I note you have not been fully co-operative in the past when adhering to court orders, but breaching the terms of this restraining order will carry a custodial sentence."