A MAN who assaulted his partner twice within nine days has been ordered to take part in a domestic abuse programme with the probation service. Forty-eight-year-old Anthony Wright was sentenced by Fenland magistrates on Tuesday, when he was given an 18-mon

A MAN who assaulted his partner twice within nine days has been ordered to take part in a domestic abuse programme with the probation service.

Forty-eight-year-old Anthony Wright was sentenced by Fenland magistrates on Tuesday, when he was given an 18-month community order and told to pay £55 costs.

At an earlier hearing, Wright, of Railway Lane, Chatteris, had admitted assaulting Linda Angier on March 28, and asked for a second assault on April 6 to be taken into consideration.

Magistrates heard how Ms Angier begged police to remove Wright from their home on April 6, saying she could not be "his punchbag" any more.

Police found Wright asleep. He admitted he had hit Ms Angier after drinking, but said he had not meant to hurt her, because he "loved her to bits".

Ms Angier smelled of drink and was tearful. Her ears and face were red, as a result of the assault, but she did not want to make a complaint about her partner.

Solicitor Martin Newton said the couple's relationship had become more volatile, because of their increased drinking.

Wright admitted pushing Ms Angier against a wall on March 28, and hitting her on the head on April 6.