Man grabbed woman by the neck in drunken assault

Andrew Pettitt 39, formerly of Armstrong Road, appeared at Mansfield Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday where he admitted assaulting a female by beating her.

Pettitt and the woman had been in a relationship for five years, which had been deteriorating in recent years.

He and his former partner had both been at work on July 26.

The court heard Pettitt had returned from work.

When the complainant returned home later he had drunk four or five pints of strong lager and told her he was exhausted.

An argument had ensued.

The woman told police Pettitt had appeared at the bathroom door shouting and swearing up the stairs.

She said: “He came in screaming and shouting at me and drew back his fist. I didn’t know what he was going to do

“I was scared he would hit me.

He had grabbed her by the hair with force and grabbed her by the neck with his hands.

The police arrived due to the noise.

Pettitt told the probation services they had struggled which ended in him grabbing her by the neck with his hand.

He said he had wanted to stop her coming towards him.

He said alcohol was not a problem but he had stopped drinking since the incident.

Pettitt had said was remorseful for his action, which had been aggravated by children present.

He was given an 18 months community order with a building better relationships requirement and 60 hours unpaid work with £85 costs and £85 victim surcharge.

A restraining order was made.