A MAN who grabbed his girlfriend by the throat after he returned in the early hours following a drinking session has been told to carry out 300 hours unpaid work.

Julian Edmunds came back to the couple’s shared home in Evesham in February. His partner had locked the door but was woken up by the doorbell ringing at about 1am.

The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, told Edmunds she was not going to let him in as it was late and he was drunk.

Edmunds, aged 41, who has now moved in with his sister at Hillview Close, Stratford-upon-Avon, started to kick the door and was eventually let in.

After a row by the front door, the woman walked into the kitchen but was followed by Edmunds, who told her: “You will see how evil I can be.”

Marie Watton, prosecuting at Worcester Magistrates Court, said Edmunds grabbed her by the throat and covered her mouth to stop her screaming.

Miss Watton said the couple had been together for six years and had moved in together in June last year.

In her police statement the woman said the relationship had generally been all right but problems started when Edmunds began drinking heavily.

Edmunds pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault but was found guilty after a trial on Tuesday, June 9.

Passing sentence, chairman of the magistrates Michael Pilling said the offences had lots of alarming features. He said: “It happened in the very early hours of the morning and involved a breach of trust. Your behaviour caused us a great deal of concern and we considered a custodial sentence.”

As well as the unpaid work, which must be completed within 18 months, Edmunds was ordered to pay £100 to each victim and £450 court costs.