The chair of Truro Magistrates’ Court told a Carbis Bay fishmonger his attack on his ex wife had been “horrendously horrific” after hearing his victim tell the police he had squeezed her so hard she thought her eyeballs would pop out.

Lisa Read said the incident, on July 16, which involved her ex-husband Jeremy repeatedly dragging her around the house by her feet and arms and trying to bite her, had made her think he was going to kill her.

Jeremy Read, of Gwelanmor Road, Carbis Bay, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mrs Read, and also to damaging a police van.

Anita Kennett, for the CPS, said a 999 call had been made to the police by a neighbour about arguing between the couple, and seeing Read drag Mrs Read into the house by her arms.

After an argument had taken place with her ex-husband Mrs Read had said she was going out to get drunk. He called her names and dragged her into the house by her arms, threw her on the floor, then dragged her into the kitchen where he threw her on the floor there. He grabbed her feet and dragged her into the dining room where he sat on her and was trying to bite her cheek. She broke away and called the police, and Read began throwing furniture round, and then he threw her on a sofa and got on top of her. He grabbed her round the face with some force.

In her victim statement Mrs Read said at one time during the attack she thought he was going to kill her.

Rob Eccleston, defending Read, said this had been an isolated incident. The couple had arguments like most couples did but they had never escalated to this degree before. It occurred when it was revealed that both partners had been involved in relationships with other people.

Read was given a 22 week prison sentence suspended for two years, told to pay £310 costs and charges, and was given a restraining order.