A LANDSCAPE gardener who beat up and bit his girlfriend after an all-day drinking session has been spared jail.

Edward Jones, 35, attacked Jolene Donachie, 25, at their home in Thornaby, after accusing her of having an affair.

Jones stormed out of a Stockton nightclub and returned home in the early hours of November 25 last year.

Several hours later, Miss Donachie arrived back with a takeaway and went to their bedroom to ask if he wanted any.

Teesside Crown Court was told that Jones lost control and attacked his partner of six years and mother-of-three.

Ruth Phillips, prosecuting, said Jones pushed Miss Donachie over, put her in a headlock, grabbed her hair and repeatedly punched her.

Jones bit Miss Donachie on the face and punched her again before she struggled free by biting his hand and clawing at him.

The terrified victim fled to call police and locked the doors to keep her partner inside, but he climbed through the kitchen window.

By the time officers arrived, Jones had got back inside the house and was found hiding in a bedroom airing cupboard.

When he was put in the police van, he said: "She always drops the charges every time I slot her."

Jones, now of Copley Close, Stockton, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm, and was given a suspended prison sentence.

The nine-month sentence was suspended for two years and Jones was ordered to undergo supervision and pay Miss Donachie £500 compensation.

Judge Peter Fox told him: "You were drunk, you were aggressive and your behaviour was savage.

"If there is any repetition, you will be serving that nine months on top of whatever else there may be."

The court heard that since the incident, both Jones and Miss Donachie have found new partners.

Shaun Dryden, mitigating, said: "It is not the case that he wants to re-establish the relationship.

He has moved on.

"It was a very unpleasant incident, fuelled by drink.

"The defendant has to accept that he lost his temper, lost control, and he accepts causing the injuries.

"He has no recollection of causing the injuries to Miss Donachie, but accepts her account of it."