A BULLY who beat up his

partner and ripped up her clothes after drinking changed his plea during a trial at Worcester Crown Court.

Dennis Gubbins had denied two counts of assaulting Jacqueline Harrison.

But, after she finished her evidence, the 41-year-old pleaded guilty to both offences.

Judge Ian Morris remanded him in custody yesterday for a pre-sentence report and warned him to expect a jail term.

Gubbins became violent during a volatile 19-month relationship with Miss Harrison after she spent the night at a friend's home.

He arrived at the house in St Agatha's Close, Pershore, at 7am on Sunday, October 29, last year, made abusive comments and was drinking from a cider bottle.

The couple returned to their flat but Gubbins, of Betjeman Close, Pershore, ordered his lover Miss Harrison to undress and then ripped up her clothes.

When she protested, he punched her in the face and body, causing bruises and a cut eye.

She retreated back to the friend's home but he followed, barged in and began thumping Miss Harrison again.

Ambulancemen treated her at the scene. For her own safety, she went to live in a refuge for battered women.

Tariq Shakoor, prosecuting, said heavy drinking blighted the couple's relationship, leading to rows and temporary break-ups.

"They couldn't live with each other or without each other," he told the jury.

Gubbins refused to answer questions after being arrested by police.

The trial was delayed by two days because the defendant turned up drunk at court and was remanded in custody to curb his drink habit.