A WORDSLEY man who attacked his pregnant partner in front of their children has been spared further jail time.

Blane Williams struck Suzanne Dougherty 20 times about the head and body and bit her on the finger and wrist as one of their frightened small children screamed: "Mommy stop bleeding”.

At Wolverhampton Crown Court, Judge Michael Dudley told 27-year-old Williams: "You do not need me to tell you this was serious assault. The photographs clearly tell the story of what you did.

"You pulled hair out of her head and you punched and bit her - all in the presence of your children. It really was a terrible offence."

He added Williams had a "bad" record for violence and stressed: "You need help to calm down your temper. This was a sustained assault while you were under the influence of alcohol."

Williams, of High Street, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and was given a 34 week prison term suspended for a year.

The judge further ruled Williams, who had spent the equivalent of a six month jail sentence while being held on remand, must also attend domestic abuse and alcohol programmes.

Sati Ruck, prosecuting, said Williams attacked his partner of ten years and the mother of his two children when they argued after he had been drinking in the Queens Head pub in Wordsley.

He first grabbed her around the throat and shook her before pushing her from the driving seat of their car into the passenger seat.

Williams then rained blows on Miss Dougherty who begged him not to hit her again and she sustained bruising and swelling, a cut to her one eye, bite marks and she also had hair pulled from her head.

Andrew Jackson, for Williams, said the couple were now hoping for a reconciliation and added: "It is their plan to live together again”.

The judge told Williams: "What you plainly need is input to deal with your alcohol and anger problems. This was a sustained assault and you targeted her in front of the children. But I accept it was not premeditated."