A DRUNKEN man struck his partner in the back and trashed her house after drinking 15 pints.

Wesley Fisher, aged 64, of Summerfield Gardens, Evesham, admitted common assault and two charges of criminal damage when he appeared before Worcester magistrates.

The court was told how Fisher had an argument with his partner Anne Davies, told her he was going to leave her and stormed off before he returned to collect his stuff from her flat after a drinking session.

When his partner refused to let him in because he was drunk he smashed a window with a rake and once inside began trashing the house, breaking a glass-fronted cabinet, ceiling lights, a microwave and a child’s television during the incident on Saturday, September 6.

In total, Fisher caused almost £500 worth of damage, £300 of which was to personal belongings and £191 to items belonging to Rooftop Housing Group Limited, the housing association which manages the property. Fisher has previous convictions for actual bodily harm, two drink-driving charges and a common assault.

Douglas Marshall, prosecuting, said: “He said if she did not let him in he would kill her. He struck her back causing her to be winded. He had no memory of the argument that had taken place initially.

“He accepts he would have become angry if he was refused entry.”

In police interview Fisher said he drank about 15 pints before the incident. Fisher claimed his partner had smashed his glasses in a recent argument and argued that some of the furniture that was broken was his and had been given to him by his grandmother.

Fisher, who represented himself, said: “I make no excuse for my behaviour.

“I don’t condone what I did. I have a drink problem. I hadn’t touched whisky for three years until that day. It’s a volatile relationship.

“I’m very much in love with the lady.”

He said the couple were still in close contact but were now living apart. Fisher was given a community order for 12 months with supervision.

He was ordered to pay compensation to the housing association of £191 and compensation for the assault of £50. No order was made for compensation for the personal belongings that were damaged because magistrates said there was some dispute about who owned them.

Fisher was also ordered to pay court costs of £70.