A DUDLEY woman was brutally kicked and punched by her partner after she woke him up.

Claire Finlay was left battered and bruised by Dominic Abrahams after he had been out drinking heavily, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

The 33-year-old fell asleep on a neighbour's sofa and when Miss Finlay went round to wake him up he became violent, said Robert Edwards, prosecuting.

He told Wolverhampton Crown Court that Abrahams then chased her upstairs in the house leaving her “terrified” about what was to happen.

Mr Edwards said he grabbed her from behind and kicked her about the head and body and when she tried to get away he lashed out again.

Abrahams then forced her head down on a bed making it difficult for her to breathe but he then left the scene when the householder threatened to call the police.

The offence was committed when Abrahams was the subject of a community order for attacking her on an earlier occasion.

“This was a sustained assault on a vulnerable victim,” Recorder Denis Desmond told Abrahams.

“She suffered extreme bruising and she has now terminated the relationship.”

The recorder said it was clear that Abrahams remembered little of the attack because of the alcohol he had downed.

Abrahams, now living in Boydon Close, Wolverhampton, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and he was jailed for 18 months.

Alisha Harris, defending Abrahams – a man with 17 previous convictions on his criminal record including battery against Miss Finlay - told the court he had lost his temper in the heat of the moment.

She said the father-of-three had a lot to drink and he had little recollection of his actions.

"He is full of remorse for what he did to his partner," said Miss Harris.