A man launched a brutal attack on his partner - less than two months after another assault on her.

Nigel Smith, 52, punched the woman eight times in the face and back after an argument causing extensive bruising, a court heard.

The attack happened only hours after he returned home from spending the day doing community service, his punishment for a previous assault on the same woman two months before.

At Macclesfield magistrates’ court, Smith, of Ecton Avenue, Macclesfield, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Smith was bailed to be sentenced by a judge at Chester Crown Court on October 11 because magistrates felt the offence was so serious it was beyond the limits of their powers.

The court heard that Smith had appeared in court in August where he admitted assaulting the woman by slapping her and drink driving.

He was sentenced to 120 hours unpaid work and banned for 26 months.

Debbie Byrne, prosecuting, said the most recent assault happened on Knight Street on September 5.

She said: “The defendant and the victim were in a four year relationship. She says that when he has been drinking he becomes nasty an aggressive. They had friends over to the house and were all drinking alcohol.”

Ms Byrne said that when everyone had gone Smith called her names, adding: “She went up stairs and he followed her into the bedroom where he pulled her hair and punched her. She managed to free herself and call the police.”

Mrs Byrne said when he was interviewed by police Smith claimed that his partner also drank heavily and they said derogatory things to each other.

She said: “He said he had spent the day doing community service. They had friends round and began arguing. He admits punching her eight times, five to the face and three to the back. He said he was down about the relationship and being out of work.”

Anthony Derbyshire, defending, said the couple had been having difficulties over the last two years.

He said: “He is an engineer but has been unemployed and has too much time on his hands. He has used alcohol for a crutch for his depression. This incident has shaken him up. It’s a wake up call. He is ashamed and embarrassed by his actions. He has started to get treatment for his alcohol.”