AN ALCOHOLIC "punched the living daylights" out of his ex-partner at a wedding party.

Both Brian Foreman and his recently estranged partner were among a group from Hartlepool at the Durham Castle wedding celebration on August 29.

Durham Crown Court heard weeks earlier his partner ended the relationship - but he sent a number of texts apologising for what she considered his “lying, cheating ways”.

He sent so many that she complained to police and Foreman again apologised after returning from a spell in London.

David Brooke, prosecuting, said they arrived at the castle for the wedding party at 6.30pm, but as the evening went on, Foreman rowed with his father and went outside to cool off, when he was told by his ex-partner not to spoil the evening.

They argued and she called for a taxi but the row became more heated and, when the taxi arrived, he stopped her closing the door, having already taken her phone from her.

The driver refused to take her and the couple continued their row and as she sat on a bench outside, Foreman straddled her and screamed in her face before launching a flurry of blows.

Mr Brooke said: “To use her words, she said he literally punched the living daylights out of her.”

She tried to scratch his face in response, but this only aggravated Foreman to land more punches.

Mr Brooke said passers-by intervened and Foreman disappeared.

The 32-year-old victim was treated for a black-eye and multiple bruises to her face and body, plus marks round her neck.

When Foreman was arrested in Middlesbrough, early next day, he had a cut lip and appeared very drunk.

He said both he and his ex-partner had drunk heavily the previous evening, and claimed he acted in self defence.

But he said he then “blacked out” and could offer no explanation as to how she received the black-eye and bruising.

Foreman, 35, of Bright Street, Hartlepool, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm.

Brian Mark, mitigating, said Foreman had gambling debts and turned to drink while suffering depression.

Mr Mark said Foreman is trying to tackle his alcohol dependency.

Judge Richard Adams imposed an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, with a year of probation supervision during which Foreman must complete 150 hours’ unpaid work.

A restraining order was put in place preventing him from trying to contact or approach his ex-partner “until further notice”.