The partner of a man with mental health problems who had attacked her, banging her head against a concrete wall, punching and kicking her and breaking a tooth, wanted to stay with him, Truro magistrates heard.

Jody Nott had called the police on March 18 saying Paul Timmins had broken her nose.

When officers arrived at her home they were met by Timmins at the front door, holding a broom in his hands. He was calm and not shouting.

Timmins, 31, of Trevenson Street, Camborne, pleaded guilty to assaulting Ms Nott.

Alison May for the CPS said police found her with blood on her face and hands and she told them Timmins might have chipped one of her teeth. She said he had held her head, banging it against a concrete wall in the garden three or four times, and when she fell down, he kicked her, and punched her in the face.

She said she was concerned about his mental state, and did not want to support a complaint to the police. She said she would be leaving him and moving away as she could not put up with any more of his blackouts.

Timmins told the police he had been drinking wine, tequila, beer and whisky and did not remember assaulting Ms Nott.

“If I have done anything like this I am absolutely disgusted”, he added.

He had previous convictions for dishonesty, alcohol-related offences and assault.

Ms May said Ms Nott, whose nose was not found to be broken, had said now that she wanted to continue their relationship and did not want a restraining order made to protect her.

Timmins told the magistrates: “I am really not a bad person. I am trying to get better. I love her to bits and do not know how to explain how I did something like this.”

He was given a 14 week prison sentence suspended for 18 months, with requirements for alcohol treatment and drug rehabilitation, and had to pay £165 costs and charges.