A MAN who violently smashed a china mug over his partner's head has narrowly avoided jail.Felixstowe man John Smith, 26, admitted assaulting the woman after a row over her ex-boyfriend.

A MAN who violently smashed a china mug over his partner's head has narrowly avoided jail.

Felixstowe man John Smith, 26, admitted assaulting the woman after a row over her ex-boyfriend.

"Smith lost his temper and he hit her over the head with a china mug which broke into pieces," said prosecutor Lesla Small at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court.

It hit the back of her head causing it to bleed and "clumps of hair to come out," said Ms Small.

Smith then dragged the victim into the hallway where he kicked and punched her to the legs, arms and back.

"She curled up into a ball to protect her head and body," Ms Small told the court. "It lasted about three seconds but after that she laid on the bed and was sick three times."

Her injuries included cuts to her head.

She also had bruising to her head, back and leg where she was kicked and punched in the hallway.

Smith also admitted being in breach of his bail after bumping into the victim at Tescos on the corner of Hamilton Road, Felixstowe, and talked to her.

Michael Stephenson, mitigating, said the pair had been living together for four years.

On the night Smith, of Cornwall Road, had been with a friend drinking a cider and larger mix, but was not drunk.

He lost his temper after a friend told him about his girlfriend speaking to her ex. The victim overheard the conversation and said it was true.

"For whatever reason he lost his temper and in less than a minute there was an assault," said Mr Stephenson.

"The following minute he was appalled at what he had done." The court heard Smith deeply regretted his actions and his partner had hoped for a reconciliation.

Bench chairman Martin Smith sentenced the defendant to a 180 hour community punishment order and ordered him to pay £150 compensation for "pain and distress".

"I understand from your solicitor that came here today expecting to be sent to prison," he said of Smith, who has no previous convictions.

"Kicking a woman while she is on the ground should normally be dealt with in that way."

But he warned: "It is up to you to control your temper."