A father who used his partner's head like a "punchbag" and broke her nose was yesterday spared jail.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that Bernard Sewell, 22, "saw red" when the mother of his daughter slapped him during an argument in March.

Natasha Bell suffered a fractured nose and a gash to her eyelid during the attack, and needed eight stitches.

The court was told Sewell was sitting in a car when a row began with Miss Bell.

She reached into the car and tried to get the keys from the ignition and slapped Sewell. He then attacked her.

Miss Bell was still scared to go out alone and was afraid of returning to her home, because the defendant still had keys to the property, the court heard.

For Sewell, Caroline Goodwin said: "This is not a man prone to violence and he is extremely remorseful for what he has done.

"She was the first to deliver a slap and he, in turn, acknowledges that he over reacted."

Judge Esmond Faulks told Sewell: "On that day, your then partner tried to slap you while you were in the car.

"It was enough to trigger off extreme anger. You got out of the car and proceeded to use her head like a punchbag. That was just ridiculous behaviour from you."

Sewell, of Lorham Avenue, South Shields, admitted unlawful wounding and was ordered to carry out a two-year community rehabilitaion order and a ten-month domestic violence programme.