A Cresselly man took a door off its hinges to get to and attack his then girlfriend, a judge heard yesterday.

Merlin Seagroatt, 25, of Whitehill, Cresselly, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and criminal damage.

Chris James, prosecuting, told Swansea crown court on Thursday, November 28 how Seagroatt had been in an “on, off” relationship with a woman from Neyland.

As they arrived at her home in April this year a trivial row began after she refused to allow him to take a set of weights into property.

The court heard that she went into the bungalow and put a security chain on the front door.

As she locked the back door Seagroatt burst in through the front door, snapping the chain.

During the following hours, Seagroatt twisted her arm around her back, hit her on the head with a ladle, slapped her face and punched her.

When the woman thought Seagroatt was asleep in a bedroom she went into the lounge to telephone her father.

But Seagroatt got into the room by taking a door off its hinges and attacked her again, telling her: “I’m going to kill you. I have always wanted to kill someone.”

The victim pretended to pass out in the hope that he would leave her alone.

After his arrest Seagroatt told police he had not attacked her and that she had suffered an eye injury and extensive bruising during a fight with another woman. He also claimed that she had caused the damage to the house herself.

The court heard the couple were no longer in a relationship.

Seagroatt was jailed for 10 months, suspended for 18 months, placed under supervision for 18 months and ordered to carry out 160 hours of unpaid work for the community.

Judge Peter Heywood said it was more by luck than judgement that the woman had not suffered serious injuries.

“There are always ups and downs in a relationship. You can’t behave like this towards ladies you are in a relationship with,” he added.

Seagroatt was also banned from entering the street in Neyland where the victim lives or contacting her for three years.