A farrier from Kingswerswell who attacked his partner after their relationship turned into a war zone has been spared jail.

Carl Hill was sent on a course to improve his attitudes to domestic violence after he punched his girlfriend in the mouth and left her with a broken tooth.

He received a suspended sentence after the prosecution at Exeter Crown Court dropped a second, more serious case in which he was accused of attacking her with a heavy free-standing ashtray.

Hill started the relationship with Amanda Pattison after his 32-year-old marriage broke down but there were frequent drunken arguments between the two of them.

He punched her three times in the mouth, leaving her with a broken tooth which required extensive dental treatment.

Hill, aged 56, of Waterdale Farm, Kingskerswell, denied two counts of causing actual bodily harm. He was found guilty of one at a trial in October and the prosecution decided not to pursue the second.

Recorder Mr Philip Mott, QC, jailed him for six months, suspended for two years, and ordered him to attend Building Better Relationships and an alcohol awareness courses as part of two years supervision.

He also ordered him to pay £2,800 costs and imposed a restraining order forbidding any contact with Miss Pattison for two years.

He told him that his lack of any previous convictions allowed him to suspend the sentence.

During a three day trial the prosecution alleged he attacked Miss Pattison with the heavy brass base of a free standing wooden ashtray in April 2012 and broke a tooth when he punched her in a second assault in October.

They said he told police at the time he had hit Miss Pattison because she nagged him about spending too much time in the pub.

Hill said he was defending himself during both incidents and had suffered repeated attacks in when Miss Pattison punched him or lashed out at him.

He said:"I started a relationship with her in 2010. It got worse and worse and we were fighting all the time. Not physical fighting but she would say things and start things off.

"There was not a week that went by where there was not a war zone of some sort with verbal abuse. After about 12 months she started lashing out and hitting me and smashing my personal effects.

"I did not beat her up. I had no intention to beat her up but I have stood my ground to defend myself as best I can. I would say her behaviour was psychotic and mine was reasonable."