AN abusive man smashed his partner's head off a windowsill in a bloody attack then blamed his bad language on watching comedian Ricky Gervais.

Jonathan Pettigan was convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm following a trial at Worcester Magistrates Court on Monday.

The 46-year-old of Robeson Close, Droitwich, had already admitted another ABH against the same victim, committed while on bail for the first attack, which he had denied.

He claimed he was acting in self-defence and that she was 'fabricating' the attack. However, his version of events was rejected by magistrates.

Pettigan, a renderer, accepted he had consumed six cans of Carling and a pint at the Westcroft pub before the incident but denied he was drunk.

During the trial, the victim gave evidence against Pettigan from behind a screen, breaking down in tears as she recounted the ordeal on March 3 this year.

She said: "He threw me back with such force that I went flying back and hit my head off the windowsill. I put my hands on my head and they were covered in blood."

She also said she was pushed over a second time in the hallway of her home after she had called 999. A 'thud' could be heard on the 999 recording, played in court.

Police were said by Timothy Talbot-Webb, prosecuting the case, to have found the victim lying on the floor. Body-worn footage showed her with a bandage around her head.

Photos of her injury, her hair matted with blood, were also shown on large screens in court.

Speaking from the witness box, she said she had to attend the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch for a CT scan after the assault because of concerns she may have suffered a fractured skull.

However, this proved not to be the case. But the wound needed to be glued.

"It was the worst headache I have ever had. I asked him to leave but he was just stomping around the house" she said, describing the aftermath of the attack.

In the 999 call recording the victim could be heard shouting 'get off me!' and 'get out!' a number of times.

Pettigan could also be heard on the call calling her by obscene terms. In his own evidence, Pettigan said he had been watching After Life with Ricky Gervais and that's where he had last heard the term used.

In cross-examination, Mr Talbot-Webb said: "So it's Ricky Gervais' fault?"

Pettigan explained that he watched the series and was not brought up to use such language. "It's not his fault, it's just why it was on my mind," he said.

His claim that he was acting in self-defence was rejected by magistrates. The prosecutor also revealed that Pettigan had admitted ABH against her while on bail for the attack.

"She ran to neighbours visibly upset and bleeding from her nose," said Mr Talbot-Webb. He said Pettigan had struck her twice to the right-hand side of her face and pinned her down with his left hand across her throat and his right hand pressing down on her right eye.

"He also bit her finger," said Mr Talbot-Webb.

Magistrates declined jurisdiction for the case on the grounds that strangulation was involved, that one ABH was committed while on bail for the other and also the use of a bite which is classified as 'a weapon'.

Pettigan was remanded in custody to appear before Worcester Crown Court on May 27.