A MAN with a drink problem was jailed yesterday after punching and kicking his girlfriend and threatening to hit her with her stiletto boot.

Debra Luck had tried to end her relationship with Andrew John Lee, of East Mount Road, Darlington, just days before he went on a drinking binge and assaulted her, South Durham Magistrates' Court heard.

Lee, 24, had been out drinking and clubbing with Miss Luck and friends when the attack happened, on April 26, magistrates at Newton Aycliffe were told.

David Chadwick, prosecuting, said that by the end of the night Lee had become increasingly aggressive and began shouting at his girlfriend.

When the pair arrived home at about 10.30pm Mr Chadwick said that Lee punched the girl in the face before grabbing her by the hair as she ran upstairs.

He said: "She sat on the bed crying and cowering.

"He then grabbed hold of one of Miss Luck's stiletto heeled boots and took his arm back as if he was going to hit her with it."

After pleading with him to stop Lee left the house and Miss Luck ran to a phone box to call her sister.

Lee was waiting for her outside and grabbed her arm and told her to get into a taxi.

Lee began to kick her hard on the backs of her legs before she ran to her sister's house, from where she called the police, said Mr Chadwick.

Bruce Cunningham, defending, said his client had a history of aggressive behaviour.

He said: "It is beginning to dawn on him that his behaviour when drinking ultimately affects his life more than anybody else's."

Lee pleaded guilty to assault and was sentenced to five months in prison.

He was also given a one-month jail sentence to run concurrently for failing to surrender to custody.