A 35-year-old man from Takeley has been handed a community order after dragging his partner out of his home by her hair and punching her to the floor.

Piotr Kaminski, who gave his address as Chapel Fields, pleaded guilty to assault by beating at Colchester Magistrates Court on June 1.

The court heard Kaminski had been at a property in Felsted with his partner on April 15 when neighbours heard an argument break out around 9.45pm.

Stephen Sparkes, prosecuting, said: “It went on for about 30 minutes before the neighbour went to check. She knocked on the door and heard crashing, crying and screaming but heard no reply.

“She went to the other neighbour’s and she then saw the door open to the defendant’s house and saw him drag the victim out of the property by her hair.”

The court heard Kaminski, who is understood to have been drinking, pushed his partner against a wall and started punching her, then hitting her in the face before she collapsed to the ground.

In mitigation, Aleksandra Kowalik called Kaminski’s behaviour “inadmissible and unacceptable”, but said he is working to control his emotions.

“The defendant has already shown he is taking steps to manage his emotions by going on a course in Braintree,” she said.

“He went there a few weeks ago but was told not to come back because he can control his emotions, but he is due to start there on June 10. The goal of the course is to allow him better understanding of his behaviour.”

It was also heard from a probation officer that Kaminski said he “couldn’t have seen what would happen” that day, and that it “just got out of hand”.

The officer added: “He said he is not proud of what happened. He said they pushed each other but he admits to the behaviour that he inflicted on his partner. He is taking stock of how alcohol affected him that day.”

Chairman of the bench, Michael Ferrier called the attack a “prolonged and unpleasant assault” and handed Kaminski a community order with the requirement of 200 hours of unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay £85 in court costs and an £85 victim surcharge.