A PRINT worker who attacked his ex-partner has walked free from Worcester Crown Court after she pleaded for him to be spared prison.

Judge David McEvoy QC suspended a nine-month sentence on 49-year-old Bernard O'Toole for two years after hearing that his victim did not want him to go to jail.

But he ordered O'Toole to pay £1,000 compensation to mother-of-three Penelope Cartridge, of Chaddesley Corbett.

O'Toole, of Woodhouse Orchard, Belbroughton, pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm on Miss Cartridge on June 6.

The couple had lived together for 17 years, said Nicolas Cartwright, prosecuting, but she left him in 1995 because he became aggressive after drink.

Two years ago, they started seeing each other again. He spent Christmas 2001 with the family and in the New Year went on a three-day trip to Amsterdam with Miss Cartridge, but it was a disaster.

O'Toole continued trying to get in touch and on June 6 he barged into Miss Cartridge's cottage after he had been to a friend's funeral. He pushed her backwards onto a table and she cut her wrist badly on a wine glass. He also kicked her several times.

Mr Cartwright said two tendons on her left hand were severed. There was no guarantee of success for an operation so she had been left with a permanent disability.

Adam Western, defending, said O'Toole had worked as a book binder for 16 years and was now in another relationship.

On the day of the assault, he had drunk two pints of beer at the wake following the funeral of a friend who had committed suicide.

Judge McEvoy said the court seriously viewed violence towards women and it was only because of Miss Cartridge's plea that he was not imposing a jail sentence.