AN ALCOHOLIC from Tetbury who violently attacked his girlfriend three times in the space of three weeks has avoided prison.

Dean Wood, 32, admitted assaulting Michelle Hellier on November 6 and 27 last year and again on December 1.

He was due to stand trial on the three charges on Monday but changed his pleas to guilty after seeking an indication from Judge Jamie Tabor QC of the sentence he would receive if he admitted the offences.

The judge said he would not jail Wood but he would order him to attend alcohol and anger management courses, and warned him that one slip would see him locked up.

Prosecutor George Threlfall said Wood initially moved into Ms Hellier's home as a lodger after she was asked by his mum to take him in when he was homeless after a relationship ended.

Despite the age gap between Wood and Ms Hellier, they began a relationship in June, and he was sometimes threatening and aggressive after drinking, Mr Threlfall said.

The prosecutor told the court that on November 6 Ms Hellier started shouting and swearing and became angry during a row about his ex partner.

"She picked up his phone and threw it on the floor," said Mr Threlfall. "The back came off it but it was not damaged.

"All of a sudden she saw him running at her from the other side of the room and he grabbed her with both his hands around her throat and squeezed, restricting her breathing and causing her a lot of pain.”

He added: "She told police he seemed almost completely out of control and screamed at her.

“She was terrified he would kill her but after 10 seconds he let go although he carried on raging and shouting at her."

Ms Hellier gave Wood another chance but Wood erupted violently again on November 27 when she woke him up to ask for more of the duvet cover.

"He immediately started shouting and abusing her – telling her to shut her mouth and calling her names. He had done it before and it was not exceptional," Mr Threlfall said.

"But what was exceptional was that he grabbed her by the arms and threw her out of the bed. She was crying and sobbing with the shock and pain.

"The following morning he apologised and said he did not know what he was doing."

The court heard that Ms Hellier gave Wood yet another chance but on December 1, after he had drunk half a bottle of vodka and two litres of cider, they had a row about their respective ex partners and he began punching and kicking her repeatedly on the leg and face causing her nose to bleed.

He seemed unconcerned by her injury and told her "It's only a nose bleed."

"She tried to call the police, but he took the phone out of her hand," the prosecutor said.

"She went upstairs and used her mobile phone to call her friend who rang the police."

Mr Threlfall said Wood then begged Ms Hellier not to tell police, stating: "Please don't do this. I will get sent down. We love each other."

The barrister said Wood had previous convictions and Ms Hellier was “not the first of his partners to have fallen victim to violence”.

Judge Jamie Tabor QC ordered a pre-sentence report on Wood, of Coronation Road, and said he would sentence him on January 21, but he would not be jailed.