An alcoholic who threw a mobile phone at his partner’s head has been ordered to pay compensation.

Eric Neale, of Peddars Lane, Beccles, admitted assaulting the woman after an argument on April 27 earlier this year.

The 50-year-old phoned the police himself following the incident.

Jen Walker, prosecutor, said: "This was a domestic-related assault. They had been in a relationship for about four years and she tried to support his alcoholism but he fell off the wagon.

"She rang him asking him to come for tea and she was drinking a glass of wine when he arrived. He took exception to that and began shouting in her face.

"He screamed at her and threw the television remotes across the room and then picked up a mobile phone and threw that. It hit her above the eye.

"He calmed down and apologised. He told police he had been drinking but was not drunk, and that he was horrified by his actions."

In a victim impact statement, the woman said she holds no ill will towards her ex-partner, but did not want to see him again.

James Hartley, mitigating, said: "Their only problems related to alcohol.

"He realised when he was 26 that he was an alcoholic, but he has had a drinking problem since he was 15.

"He goes to Alcoholics Anonymous twice a week and has been doing so for 20 years and had abstained for seven months before the death of a close friend aged 51. Unfortunately, he came off the wagon and started drinking.

"Because of a leak in his bathroom he was an hour late for dinner and she was not happy so had a glass of wine.

"He threw the mobile phone behind him and did not realise he had hit her and he did not mean to.

"He accepts the relationship is over."

Appearing at Great Yarmouth Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, May 29, Neale was ordered to pay £250 in compensation to the victim, as well as £85 in court costs.

A restraining order was also made, banning Neale from contacting his former partner or being in her street.