ALCOHOL-induced rage led an Ipswich man to slap his girlfriend around the face and throw his mobile phone at her, a court heard.Jason Bedford pleaded guilty to assaulting Sarah Nixon on January 20 after she returned home to find he had locked her out.

ALCOHOL-induced rage led an Ipswich man to slap his girlfriend around the face and throw his mobile phone at her, a court heard.

Jason Bedford pleaded guilty to assaulting Sarah Nixon on January 20 after she returned home to find he had locked her out.

South East Suffolk Magistrates Court heard how Miss Nixon had gone to visit her parents who Bedford did not get on with. When she left him at around 3pm he was drinking. She returned to see he had become increasingly drunk so she left again to visit friends.

When she got back to their home in Alan Road, Ipswich, at about 9pm the door had been locked.

Ian Pells, prosecuting, said: "She went in to the kitchen and he started to be abusive. Calling her names and insulting her parents. He then poured his can of beer all over the table and stubbed a cigarette out on the carpet.

"He then slapped her around the face. She asked him why he did it and he said, "because I can". Her friend then came round and eventually called the police. He then threw his mobile phone at her leaving her with a bump on her head. The police arrived shortly after this."

In his defence Ian Devine said: "This is a man with a previous good character. He accepts that much of the incident was down to him and the alcohol he had consumed."

The 32-year-old was given a conditional discharge for six months. He was also ordered to pay £55 costs and £50 compensation.