A MAN who “lost the plot” after drinking vodka and attacked his partner has received a suspended prison sentence.

Darren Kelly, 43, threw items about his partner's Deeside home and then pushed her against a door frame.

The victim sneaked out of the house and dialled 999 but officers heard her scream as Kelly approached, grabbed her by the neck and tried to get the phone off her.

Kelly, now of Woodburn Boulevard in Higher Bebington, Wirral, but who at the time had been living part-time with Angela Beck in Sandycroft, had denied assault and damage but changed his plea on the morning of his trial.

District judge Gwyn Jones imposed a 20 week prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, and ordered him to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work.

He was placed on rehabilitation and sent on a building better relationships course.

Kelly also ended up with a £1,255 court bill - £520 compensation and a £115 surcharge, the remainder being prosecution costs.

District judge Jones said it was an extremely unpleasant incident.

He said Kelly had “lost the plot” and caused damage, became offensive and abusive and then used force against her.

A five-year restraining order was made under which he is not to approach the victim or go to the road where she lives.

Prosecutor Justin Espie told North East Wales Magistrates Court that the couple had been together 12 months, Kelly had lived with Ms Beck intermittently and she felt she had to walk on egg shells because of his unpredictable behaviour.

On August 10 he drank a bottle of vodka, there was an argument when the dog defecated on the bed, and he threw a kettle and a toaster out and his trainers against a wall.

He threw a wooden unit across the living room floor and when she said she was ringing the police he picked her up and threw her into the door frame.

She fell to the floor and when he went upstairs she sneaked out and dialled 999.

Officers could hear her crying hysterically and screaming when she said he had grabbed her around the neck and grabbed her arm and pulled her to try to get her phone.

Her clothing was damaged and she ended with reddening, bruising and cuts

In a victim impact statement she said she was petrified, could not sleep, feared he would return and hurt her again and said she wanted a restraining order because she never wanted to see him again.

Probation officer Tracey Flavell told the Mold court previous probation service assessments demonstrated a pattern of offending with regard to domestic issues within a relationship but Kelly did not accept that.

He was now living with his parents, his mother was in court to support him and he had a good work ethic and was working in the construction industry.