A WOMAN was left bleeding from an open wound on her face after being headbutted by her then-partner.

David Chadwick inflicted the injury on his victim when the pair returned home from visiting friends, during which time he had binge drank 20 cans of lager.

The 33-year-old also threatened to take their then-10-week-old baby away from her, claiming she was ‘not capable’ of looking after her.

Chadwick appeared for sentence at Liverpool Crown Court via video-link from HMP Altcourse after pleading guilty to a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Bernice Campbell, prosecuting, explained how the violent domestic incident occurred on December 4 at around 8.30pm.

They had both been drinking, with him consuming ‘some 20 cans of lager’, and while she went to the toilet to be ill, the defendant fell asleep on the couch.

She later she came downstairs to prepare milk for the baby, when he followed her into a bedroom and said she was not capable of looking after the child and wanted to take her downstairs.

Chadwick also said he would take the baby off her, to which she replied: “Good luck with that, I’m a good mum.”

He then headbutted her hard to the forehead, causing an open wound, as well as swelling and bleeding.

The defendant went downstairs and she called the police, and when officers arrived he told them: “Come on then, put me in the back of the car.”

Ms Campbell revealed that Chadwick, who the court heard has a ‘tendency to be volatile’ has two previous convictions for 10 offences.

An impact statement read out in court revealed that the victim was ‘very worried about him being released from prison’, with his behaviour becoming more aggressive due to his excessive drinking.

In his defence, Susanne Payne asked for full credit for his guilty plea and said that while the victim’s injury was ‘nasty and unpleasant’, it did not require hospital treatment.

She also said that he fully accepts his behaviour was ‘inexcusable’ and asked the court to accept his guilty plea as a ‘show of his remorse’.

He is ‘bitterly ashamed’ of the way he acted, Ms Payne added, and said that he wished through her to apologise for his behaviour.

“It is in the public’s interest to punish him, but not in the public’s interest not to rehabilitate him,” she added, commenting that his realistic prospect of rehabilitation could be managed in the community.

Before sentencing, recorder Kate Cornell said: “There were two other children in their rooms, and it is fortunate that none saw the attack.

“Clearly you have a worrying pattern of violence against partners.

“You have a problem. You are unable to control your temper, in particular in drink, and you drink alcohol to excess regularly.”

Despite this, she referred to how he had admitted the offence immediately, had complied well with court orders in the past and demonstrated genuine remorse.

Chadwick, of Grasmere Avenue in Orford, was sentenced to six months in prison suspended for 18 months.

He must also undertake 200 hours of unpaid work, complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and abide by an electronically monitored curfew for three months.

In addition, he must follow an alcohol abstinence and monitoring requirement for 90 days, pay £100 in compensation to his victim and abide by a restraining order not to contact her for two years.

Recorder Cornell added: “You are fortunate not to receive an immediate custody sentence today.

“Make use of this opportunity to stop drinking and stop offending.”