A VIOLENT bully attacked his partner as she slept and even strangled her on one occasion.

John Scanlon’s victim was awoken a number of times by him straddling her, pinning her down, and punching her in the face.

It isn’t the first time he has abused a partner.

Liverpool Crown Court heard how he has six previous convictions for seven offences – including harassment and assault which ‘both arose from a domestic relationship’.

Scanlon, of Gainsborough Road, appeared for sentencing before the court on Monday after pleading guilty to five counts of assault and one count of intentional strangulation.

But his sentencing was adjourned to October.

During Monday’s hearing, prosecuting Iain Criddle said how the first two assault offences happened in December last year.

On December 16, Mr Criddle explained that the victim said how 37-year-old Scanlon had been taking cocaine and she was asleep in bed but she was woken up by him emptying her bag and looking at letters from her bank.

When he noticed she was awake, he pinned her down to the bed, Mr Criddle said.

She was left with bruising to her arms after this offence.

Scanlon’s violent behaviour continued on December 20 when again, the victim was asleep in bed.

She was woke up by him straddling her and pinning her to the bed by her arms.

Mr Criddle said he was accusing of her of cheating on him and having a cannabis farm in the loft which was ‘ludicrous’.

The victim was left with more bruising and Scanlon was arrested on December 23.

While on bail for these offences, he committed four more.

The next were committed in May this year when Scanlon and his now ex-partner went to London together to see his grandfather who was unwell.

Liverpool Crown Court heard how Scanlon went out with his uncle while the victim stayed in the hotel room.

He returned to the room and kicked her while she was asleep. Not only was this painful enough, but the woman actually had a long-standing hip problem.

The next day, Scanlon committed a further offence of assault as well as intentional strangulation.

The pair had been out that evening but the victim returned home first.

Like the other offences, she was woken up by the defendant.

Mr Criddle said he had his arms around her throat and was accusing her of having an affair.

“She was struggling to breathe and became lightheaded,” Mr Criddle said.

Scanlon then grabbed her face with one hand and punched her with the other.

Police were able to recover pictures of the woman’s injuries, despite Scanlon making her delete them.

The last offence was committed on June 21 back in the north of England when Scanlon walked into the victim’s bedroom, grabbed her and pushed her onto the bed.

He accused her of having an affair.

Scanlon was arrested on June 21 and has been remanded in custody since.

He will appear before Liverpool Crown Court for sentencing next month.