A man accused of kicking and punching his partner following a row about her using a tumble dryer instead of hanging the washing out to dry has denied assaulting her at her Essex home.

David White told a jury at Ipswich Crown Court that following an argument with Lavinia Beer at her home in Baynard Drive in Little Dunmow he had left the house and visited a number of pubs.

He had returned to Ms Beer’s house the next morning to collect his clothes and claimed he was packing his bags when he heard her screaming on the telephone to the police asking them to come round because she was being attacked.

He claimed Ms Beer had then jumped on his back and he had pushed her away with his elbow causing her to hit the door.

“It was self defence,” said White.

He said that following the incident he had gone to a cupboard in the kitchen and swallowed a number of tablets.

He denied punching Ms Beer in the face, dragging her upstairs and then kicking and stamping on her.

White, 53, of Manchester, has denied assaulting Ms Beer causing her actual bodily harm on August 23, 2015.

The court has heard that during police interviews White denied punching or kicking Ms Beer and told police that she wasn’t telling the truth.

Giving evidence Ms Beer, who is a support worker, described her two year relationship with White as “on and off” and said there had been frequent arguments.

She said that on the day before the alleged assault she had done some washing and White had accused her of being “fat and lazy” for using the tumble dryer and not hanging it outside on the washing line.

She said he was verbally abusive towards her and she had told him to get out of her house.

She claimed that White had gone to a local pub and had returned early the next morning demanding his clothes. When she unlocked the door he allegedly hit her in the face with his fist before dragging her upstairs where the alleged assault continued.

The trial continues.