A COCKTAIL of cocaine, steroids and alcohol led to man battering his partner while she was holding their young child.

Aaron Kiely reacted angrily when he wanted more drugs and booze just hours after his partner had come out of hospital in November last year.

The 32-year-old headbutted, kicked and punched his defenceless victim as she clung onto their young daughter.

Nigel Soppitt told Teesside Crown Court how the defendant had taken over control of his partner’s life throughout the three years of their relationship leaving the victim feeling isolated from her friend’s and family.

The court heard how the violence erupted inside the family home on November 26 last year when the complaint ‘could see the defendant was in something of a mood’.

He said: “The defendant indicated he wanted some drugs, she said she had been in hospital all day and he was supposed to be looking after her.

“He then said he wanted some gin but she said she couldn’t drink due to the medication she was on.

“The violence started in the kitchen when she was holding their young child. He headbutted her, punched and kicked her to the ground.

“When she got up he was knocking her back down again.

“At all times the violence was in the presence of their young child.”

Mr Soppitt said the victim’s young son tried to get Kiely attacking his mother but was met with a volley of abuse.

In a victim impact statement, she said: “It breaks my heart that they had to watch this happen.”

Kiely, of Holtby Walk, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The court heard he was previously of good character before the violent outburst.

Simon Walker, in mitigation, said his client's behaviour is a perfect example of the damage caused by mixing drugs and alcohol.

"By his guilty plea, he has not only lost his good name he has lost his liberty," he said.

"He has very little recollection of the events of that evening. The photograph (of the victim's injuries) is unpleasant but in reality it shows somebody who has suffered a bloody nose – it is not nobody who needs medical treatment."

Mr Walker said they had both been drinking but that was no excuse for his behaviour.

He added: "He is tremendously sorry, it's an easy thing to say, but he is. It was completely out of character."

The Recorder of Middlesbrough Judge Paul Watson QC jailed Kiely for 14 months and issued him with an indefinite restraining order to protect his former partner.

He said: "You pushed her against the wall, headbutted her and she was pleading with you that she didn't want to fight but you started to kick her and punch her – you kicked her legs and her stomach, all the while you were abusing her."