A Darlington man beat up his girlfriend after an argument over who was going to make a cup of tea.

Gordon Alexander, of Aintree Court, Darlington attacked Abby Tilley in front of their daughter in November.

The 21-year-old and Ms Tilley began arguing over the cup of tea before he violently assaulted her at her home, Darlington Magistrates' Court heard yesterday.

David Bryson, prosecuting, said: "There was a dispute over a cup of tea which led to considerable violence.

"He kicked her from behind in the legs. He punched her in the head and she hit her head against the kitchen door, then he headbutted her. She tried to get away and he hit her again and later on put his hands around her neck. This attack was extremely upsetting for the victim."

Magistrates heard that two days later the violence continued when Alexander pushed his girlfriend to the ground and bit her fingers and then chased her and attacked her again.

He was arrested by police about both incidents and was charged with assaulting and threatening Ms Tilley between November 6 and November 10 last year, to which he pleaded guilty.

Chris Bunting, defending, said that the couple's daughter suffered from ill health and that had put immense pressure on the pair.

He said: "There are two sides to the story to what actually happened.

"On the first occasion there was an incident Miss Tilley had done the night before that had upset Mr Alexander and he accepts that arrangement became violent. He admits pushing her away and as a result she fell into the door and things got quite heated.

"They were shouting, bickering and verbally abusing each other. He did not deliberately headbutt her."

Mr Bunting told the court that on the second occasion Miss Tilley had threatened Alexander with a dog lead and put him in a head lock and he had pulled her to the ground to release himself from her.

"Their daughter suffers horrendous health problems and the pressure has been too much to bear for this young couple," he said.

Magistrates said they had decided to spare Alexander from jail. He was ordered to complete 100 hours of a community punishment order and made subject to a 12 month rehabilitation order.