A BOYFRIEND who dragged his partner by the hair down the street before kicking her in the head will not go to prison.

Kieran Lloyd Walsh, aged 42, of Bramhall Street, Great Sankey, was so drunk he did not remember the attack.

Halton Magistrates Court heard on Monday how witnesses saw him assault then partner Donna Hubbard.

He had been drinking in the Maltings pub, Bewsey Farm Close, Old Hall.

Walsh was described as punching her to the ground, grabbing her hair, and kicking her while she lay on the ground outside the pub.

When witness, dog walker Kate McCauley, shouted ‘what are you doing’, he replied ‘I’ve been waiting two hours for this’.

Beth Thompson, prosecuting, said the incident happened at 7.45pm on February 2, this year.

The court heard Paul Randle, who also saw the attack, said Ms Hubbard had asked staff in the pub to call police.

When Mr Randle attempted to intervene, Walsh began ‘shouting and swearing’, and told him to ‘mind his own business’.

Walsh, who has two previous convictions for assault, denied being responsible until being shown CCTV of the attack.

He pleaded guilty on May 15 - the day of the trial - although the plea was submitted on the basis no punch was thrown.

The defendant did admit dragging the victim by the hair, and kicking her.

Paul Barnes, defending, said the incident had been a ‘two way confrontation’, and Walsh and Ms Hubbard had been in a ‘volatile’ relationship.

Walsh was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for two years, a two year supervision order, and told to pay £506 in costs and fines.

District Judge Bridget Knight said: “(The defendant) needs to look deeply inside himself to see how violent he gets.

“You pleaded guilty on the day you saw the CCTV - that was (you) banged to rights.

“You have got some very serious problems.

“Probation feel they can work with you, and for that reason I’m going to suspend the sentence.”

Walsh, wearing jeans, a checked shirt, grey hooded top and trainers, shook his head as the judge spoke.

The court heard the defendant owes £341 to the courts for previous offences.

He was on benefits, and said he hopes to start them again soon, after they were stopped.