A MAN who punched his former partner in the face before kicking her "as hard as he could" while she lay on the ground escaped jail yesterday.

Peter Joicey, 37, attacked Valerie Walton when she went to their home to collect belongings at the end of their four- year relationship.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how a row erupted during which well-built Joicey attacked his 5ft victim.

Joicey, of Hylton Road, Sunderland, admitted assault at an earlier hearing.

Christopher Morrison, prosecuting, told the court Joicey had previous convictions for violence against women, including Ms Walton.

Ian Graham, for Joicey, said he had served a prison sentence for another matter since the attack last November but had stayed out of trouble since.

Yesterday, Judge John Evans sentenced Joicey to four month in prison, suspended for 12 months.