AN ARGUING Cotswold couple's fight over their Dalmatian dog led to the man beating up the woman’s father, a court heard today.

Frazer Hinder, 34, and his partner Corinne Blackwell had a blazing row on October 18 last year and she left him, taking the dog with her, Gloucester Crown Court was told.

He followed her to her parents’ home in Bibury and demanded the return of the dog - then assaulted Miss Blackwell's father, Kevin, punching him repeatedly, prosecutor Janine Wood said.

The attack was brought to an end by Miss Blackwell hitting Hinder over the head with a Jack Daniel's bottle, the court heard.

Ms Wood said Mr Blackwell was left with a bloodied eye, blood in his ear, cuts to the hand, and a bite on his left index finger.

But Hinder denied he biting Mr Blackwell's finger or gouging at his eye.

Hinder, of Hemplands in Chedworth, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Blackwell causing actual bodily harm but denied assaulting Miss Blackwell.

His pleas were accepted by the prosecutor, who said Hinder and his partner were now reconciled, she is pregnant, and she does not wish the charge concerning her to proceed.

Recorder Stephen Hall sentenced Hinder, a fencing erector, to a 12-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work and ordered him to pay Mr Blackwell, of Bibury, compensation of £1,000 as well as court costs of £200.

The recorder said: "This was a nasty assault on your partner's father. It was a very miserable and unsatisfactory event and I accept you are deeply ashamed of it."

Ms Wood had told the court the couple had been in a relationship for eight months at the time of the row late on the evening of October 18.

The row led to the alleged assault by Hinder on Miss Blackwell and she was very distressed and called her parents, Ms Wood said.

They travelled from Bibury to Chedworth to collect her and she took the dog with her.

"Hinder demanded the return of the dog and Mr Blackwell described him as drunk and aggressive,” said Ms Wood.

"The Blackwells and their daughter went with the dog to their family home. The defendant followed them there and Corinne pleaded with him to go home.

"But he did not. He punched Mr Blackwell repeatedly, knocking him to the ground. He says when he was on the ground the defendant put his thumb in his eye and bit his left index finger.

“Mr Blackwell fought back and the incident stopped when Corinne hit Mr Hinder over the head with a Jack Daniel's bottle.

"Mr Blackwell says Frazer was behaving like a maniac and he had never seen him behaving aggressively like that before."

Hinder had some previous criminal convictions including one for assault causing actual bodily harm in 1999, Ms Wood added.

Jason Coulter, defending Hider, said: "My client certainly didn't cover himself in glory in respect of this incident, which I hope you will accept he now very much regrets.

"There was an argument between him and his girlfriend. It clearly got heated. Clearly things were said on both sides which are now regretted.

"It culminated in what appeared to him to be the break-up of their relationship, she leaving the house and going home to mum and dad, taking the dog with her "I have not got the slightest idea whether she was justified in taking it or not but patently that led him to follow her.

“The father of the girlfriend came out to confront him, no doubt trying to calm the situation down and my client then behaved disgracefully."