A WORCESTER man attacked his partner with a piece of wood during a prolonged assault over two days.

Grant McIver lashed out at Deborah Peterson at her home, hitting her over the back of the head, city magistrates were told.

The following day he became violent again, punching and kicking her before grabbing her by the throat.

Miss Peterson only managed to escape when she grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed it into his hand in an attempt to get him off her.

Magistrates heard McIver and Miss Peterson had been in an on-off relationship for eight years, and he had been violent towards her and aggressive towards her two children.

On Saturday, February 10, the 26-year-old became violent and picked up a piece of wood and hit her across the back of the head.

The following day Miss Peterson tried to leave the house to get cigarettes.

"She said she had to pick her son up but he wouldn't let her out of the house," said Sarah Slater, prosecuting. "He punched and kicked her and grabbed her by the throat.

"This went on for half-an-hour and at one stage he picked her up off the ground by her throat."

Miss Peterson picked up a kitchen knife and stabbed McIver's hand to release his grip and had run next door to a neighbour.

The court heard she returned to do some ironing and McIver began hitting her again.

"She shouted for her son who ran next door and the police were called. They arrived and she was taken to Ronkswood Hospital," Miss Slater added.

Miss Peterson suffered a black eye and severe bruising to her arms and legs as well as to her scalp and neck.

McIver, of Drake Avenue, Dines Green, admitted assault by beating between February 9 and February 12.

Andrew Childs, defending, said McIver had been a severe heroin addict and was now on methadone.

He said Miss Peterson, who was attending the substance misuse unit at Merriman's Hill, was in court and in her opinion, McIver had not known what he was doing at the time because he had been drinking.

"He deeply regrets what happened and Miss Peterson hopes there can be a future for the relationship if Mr McIver changes his ways," said Mr Childs.

The case was adjourned to Droitwich Magistrates Court on Thursday, April 19, for pre-sentence reports. McIver was released on conditional bail.