A MAN attacked a disabled woman in her own home and then turned on her friend a court has been told.At a hearing at magistrates' court in Ipswich, 39-year-old Neil Brierley >pleaded guilty to two common assaults on Thereisa > Buckingham and a further common assault on Lisa Stopczynski >.

By Matt Eley

A MAN attacked a disabled woman in her own home and then turned on her friend a court has been told.

At a hearing at magistrates' court in Ipswich, 39-year-old Neil Brierley >

pleaded guilty to two common assaults on Thereisa > Buckingham and a further common assault on Lisa Stopczynski >. He also pleaded guilty to a charge of criminal damage.

The court heard that alcoholic Brierley, of Defoe Road, Ipswich, had been in a relationship with Miss Buckingham for about 16 years.

However, on June 25 he attacked her at her home, also in Defoe Road. Two days later he repeated the assault and also attacked Miss Stopczynski.

Gareth Davies, prosecuting, described the case as "a very sad matter" and said Miss Buckingham was a "vulnerable victim in every sense."

On June 25 at about 10.30pm Brierley, who was drunk at the time, went to Miss Buckingham's home. Soon after arriving he attacked her.

Mr Davies said: "He became angry and for some reason, she couldn't explain why, the defendant slapped her to the side of the face and tried kick her but she managed to fend him off.

"He grabbed her arm which caused bruising, she tried to get away and he grabbed her around the neck."

Eventually Miss Buckingham escaped and locked herself in a room. She decided not to report the incident to the police. However Brierley repeated the attack on June 27.

Again in a drunken state he returned to Miss Buckingham's flat at about 6.30pm. She was with her friend Miss Stopczynski at the time.

When Miss Buckingham asked him to leave he slapped her around the face.

He kicked a door in the house, causing criminal damage, and said to Miss Buckingham: "When Lisa's (Miss Stopczynski) gone they will be burying you next week."

He again went for Miss Buckingham, when Miss Stopczynski tried to prevent him he twisted her arm around her back.

Eventually the victims managed to escape from the flat and telephoned the police. Brierley was arrested and admitted the offences in interview.

Howard Catherall, in mitigation, said that since the incidents Miss Buckingham had attempted to visit Brierley at St Clements Hospital on two occasions but his bail conditions prevented them making contact.

At a hearing at South East Suffolk Magistrates Court Brierley was sentenced to a 12-month community rehabilitation order. He was also ordered to pay £25 compensation each to Miss Buckingham and Miss Stopczynski and an additional £25 for the damage to a door.