A DRUNK man who smashed his way through his partner’s door when she refused to give him his medication has avoided jail.

Mark Brown was found by police outside flats in Elmfield Gardens, London Road , Worcester, at about 6.35pm on Sunday, June 24, with a cut on his head.

Matt Dodson, prosecuting at Worcester Magistrates Court , said a neighbour raised the alarm when they heard smashing and found Brown pinning down Kim Price by her arms on a sofa in her flat.

Mr Dodson said both Brown and Ms Price, who are neighbours in an on-off relationship, were drunk.

Ms Price had send a text message to Brown saying she loved him, but when he did not reply she sent him a second text informing him she had thrown out his belongings. Brown had kicked at the door when Ms Price refused to let him in and had threatened to get a hammer to smash it down.

Mr Dodson said after breaking through the door, Brown walked into the living room and tried to strangle her.

When she screamed, a neighbour dragged Brown off her. She suffered bruising and reddening to her chest, neck area and arms.

Brown, of Elmfield Gard-ens, London Road, admitted using violence to enter a premises, causing criminal damage and assaulting Kim Price. This was on the basis he did not strangle Ms Price but pushed her and grappled with her when she tried to reach her phone to call the police.

He also denied using a hammer to smash the front door.

Mark Sheward, defending, said Brown suffered from epilepsy and was trying to get into Ms Price’s flat to retrieve his medication, which he could not find among his belongings outside.

Mr Sheward said the 49-year-old, who was of previous good character, offered to return to his flat and for Ms Price to leave his medication in the hallway, but she refused and that was when he lost his temper.

He said there had been a “good deal” of provocation of Brown as all he had wanted was his medication.

Magistrates sentenced Brown to a 12-month community order with 12 months of supervision and a specified activity requirement.

He was also ordered to pay £357 compensation to Bromford Housing for the damaged door, £75 compen-sation to Ms Price and £85 costs.