A MAN assaulted his partner in her own home leaving her so frightened she fled through Ilminster town centre in her torn nightwear to reach the safety of a kebab shop.

Paul Robert Walsh became angry after she had accused him of contacting other women, and he grabbed at her right breast ripping the night clothing she was wearing.

Following a further tussle the victim ran from the house in her ripped clothing to a kebab shop where police were called and found her scared and distressed.

When Walsh appeared before District Judge David Taylor to be sentenced, the court heard that the victim had since made a retraction statement saying she wanted the defendant to get treatment for his mental health issues and wanted to continue their relationship.

Walsh, 52, of West Street, had initially denied assaulting Samantha Male by beating her on July 26 last year but changed his plea to guilty during a trial before Somerset Magistrates.

He also admitted being in breach of a conditional discharge for a previous matter of assaulting a female parking attendant.

Prosecutor Julyan Stephens said that on the evening in question the victim returned home after Walsh had sent her a message saying he had found his mobile phone that he believed had been hidden by her.

“She had been concerned he had been contacting other women and they began to argue and the defendant became abusive and called her a ****,” he said.

“They tried to defuse the situation by going out for a drink but Walsh was acting in a sulky way and later on the victim checked Walsh’s phone again so he damaged it and became aggressive.

“He grabbed her by her right breast and ripped her night clothing and she fell onto the bathroom floor but then got up and a further tussle took place.

“Clearly the complainant was so distressed that she then felt it necessary to run to a local kebab shop in her nightwear.”

He added that there had since been a reconciliation between the pair and there were no requests for a restraining order to be made.

However in a victim impact statement made by Walsh’s partner shortly after the incident she stated that she dreaded coming home because of the defendant’s drinking which made him ‘volatile’ and prone to ‘mood swings’. However, she later said she wanted him to get help.

Defending solicitor Chris Ivory said that the couple were currently living apart but Walsh wanted to reconcile with the victim.

“He now realises that he needs to start addressing his issues and not be so reliant on her and it has been a traumatic 12 months for the two of them,” he said.

In passing sentence, District Judge Taylor said: “People who assault somebody else in a domestic situation in such a way that they feel the necessity to leave the property scantily-clad, and to seek help from strangers, indicates that we should take it very seriously indeed.

“Thankfully there was not serious injury and you should be ashamed of yourself in trying to downplay your wrong-doing and have a lot of lessons to learn.”

He sentenced Walsh to a 12 month community order with requirements for supervision and to take part in a 10 session alcohol activity.

He was also fined £40 and ordered to pay £400 towards costs and a £60 victim surcharge.