A MAN who launched a savage attack on his partner has been jailed for 15 months.

Appearing by video link from Forest Bank Prison, Peter Walmsley, aged 43, of Victory Street, Bolton, pleaded guilty to a charge of grievous bodily harm against his partner, who needed 20 stitches to a head wound after the attack on February 1.

Prosecuting, Duncan Wilcock said the pair had been in a relationship since August of last year. On the day of the incident, he complained she had woken him up and then punched her repeatedly to her head and arms and bit the side of her face before dragging her into the bathroom where he pushed her head into either the bath or the toilet.

Initially, Walmsley pleaded not guilty at Bolton Magistrates Court, claiming that he couldn’t remember the incident and it had only begun as ‘play fighting’.

The court heard that Walmsley had 40 previous convictions relating to 82 offences, which included dishonesty, criminal damage, wounding and assault.

Defending, Colin Buckle said because Walmsley couldn’t recall the attack he panicked in giving instruction to a not guilty plea at magistrates. “The defendant is deeply remorseful,” he added.

The defendant and his partner had been blighted by drug addiction and did without methadone and to try to break through the horrendous symptoms they took Valium, and that was what had an impact on his memory.”

Sentencing Walmsley, Judge Graeme Smith said: “Clearly this was a serious and sustained assault resulting in a serious head injury and you do have a recurring record of offences of violence. I do not give you full credit because there was an indication at magistrates court that the victim had fallen over.”

A restraining order was also issued preventing Walmsley from contacting his former partner.