A football coach who hit his fiance over the head with a pottery lamp as she slept has been spared jail.

Julie Embleton, 44, realised Stephen Smith, 39, had attacked her when she woke up with her head covered in blood and the broken lamp lying beside her.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how the assault on July 2 last year was the second violent attack by "jekyl and hyde character" Smith during their three-year relationship.

The first assault, which happened on March 17, left Ms Embleton with fractured fingers as well as scratching and bruising.

The court heard how Ms Embleton met Smith, a former fireman, when they worked together for a fianance company in 2003.

They moved in together but the court heard how Ms Embleton quickly realised Smith had a jekyle and hyde type personality.

Prosecutor Lee Crozier told the court: "His mood would change in an instant, he would be nice to her one moment then pick an argument over nothing the next.

"He had a jealous streak and would accuse her of looking at other men."

The first incident was sparked after an afternoon out drinking duirng which Smith accused Ms Embleton of having an affair.

When they got home Smith, who played professional football in the past and is now a volunteer coach, snapped.

Mr Crozier said; "He punched her on the left side of the face and put his hands around her neck saying 'I'm going to kill you'.

"SHe managed to get outside but he grabbed her from behind, put his hands over her mouth and was bending her left hand, causing immediate pain."

Ms Embleton managed to flee to a neighbour's house.

After the incident Smith agreed to seek help with anger management and the couple decided to give the relationship another go.

But on July 2, after the they had watched an England match at a bar together, trouble flared again.

Mr Crozier said: "After the match they went to two further bars but they had to leave both pubs, he was accusing her of looking at other men.

"She knew there was going to be a night of fighting again.

"At around 2am she went to bed and she dozed off but she realised he was standing over her.

"At 2.45am she felt blood on the top left of her head and a pottery lamp was lying next to her, broken.

"SHe got out of bed bleeding heavily.

"She asked him to get some help but she refuseds, saying he had hurt her because she had hurt him.

"SHe was naked and bleeding."

The court heard how Ms Embleton ran out of the house when she realised Smith had removed the Sim card from her mobile, meaning she could not call for help.

She had a cut to her head which needed stitches.

Smith, of Cleveland Road, High Barnes, Sunderland, admitted two charges of assault.

Defence barrister Tony Hawks said Smith, who spent a month behind bars after his arrest, has now reconciled with his wife, who he was with before he met Ms Embleton.

Mr Hawks said Smith has no history of violence.

Judge John Evans sentenced Smith to 12 months imprisonment suspended for two years and ordered him to complete a community domestic violence programme.