A 50-year-old man grabbed his partner by the throat and hit her before he attacked two neighbours, a court heard.

Stephen Blann also threatened to kill Amanda Smith before he punched Carmel Moxon on the nose and pulled Amy Lyons’ hair.

Blann, of Beauchamp Road, Malvern, admitted three charges of assault at a previous hearing but he was sentenced at Worcester Magistrates Court.

Marie Watton, prosecuting, said Blann and Miss Smith had been involved in a number of arguments on Saturday, June 28, before the the first assault started just before 7pm. “Blann grabbed Miss Smith by the throat and slapped her across the right cheek,” she said.

“He hit her a few more times and she tried to escape.

“He followed her, and as she reached the bottom of the stairs, he pushed her into the wall causing her to graze her arm.”

Miss Watton said neighbours Miss Moxon and Miss Lyons described the victim’s screams as unbearable so they decided to go around and see if they could help.

Blann, who had been drinking, became verbally abusive towards them at the front door, which is when he grabbed Miss Moxon around the throat and punched her in the nose.

The court heard she tried to fight back by putting her thumb in his eye.

Blann then grabbed Miss Lyons’ hair with both hands and threw her to the floor.

Miss Smith suffered bruising to her right cheek, swelling to the right eye, as well as a lump to the back of her head. Miss Moxon suffered a bloody nose, reddening to the throat, and pain in her right shoulder, while Miss Lyons suffered scratches to her knees and scalp. In mitigation Edward Gaynor-Smith said his client, who was of previous good character, was ashamed to appear in court and added that Blann lost his job as a result of the incident.

“He couldn’t believe he had acted in the way described by the victims because he’s never done anything like this before,” he said.

Mr Gaynor-Smith said Blann has since reduced his alcohol intake and was now trying to get another job.

Magistrates sentenced Blann to do 100 hours’ unpaid work as part of a 12-month community order, with a six-month supervision requirement. He was also made to pay £100 compensation to Miss Smith, £50 to Miss Moxon and Miss Lyons, as well as £200 court costs.