A Coverack guest house owner was subjected to abuse and aggression by her partner over a period of around two hours, leaving her with soreness to her neck and cheek and swelling and bruises to her left wrist, Truro magistrates heard.

At one stage Glyn Peate grabbed her around the neck as if to strangle her.

Peate, aged 51, formerly living with Bridget Young at School Hill, Coverack, pleaded guilty to assaulting her on January 1.

Anita Kennett, prosecuting, said the couple had been in an on/off relationship for eight years and at the time of the attack he was living with her at her guest house.

He returned home from the pub and was abusive to her, which extended into violence as he tried to provoke her into lashing out at him.

She refused to play along with what she said were “his silly games” and he grabbed her by the wrist and about the neck as if to strangle her. When he let her go, he kicked her in the leg. The incident lasted for about two hours.

Charles Hulley, for Peate, said he had been very, very drunk that evening, and had no clear recollection of the incident, but accepted the evidence against him.

They had not had a particularly good New Year’s Eve together and the relationship had now ended and he had moved to Walsall.

Peate was fined £250 with £110 costs and surcharge and told to pay Ms Young compensation of £100. A restraining order was made to protect her.