"I feel deep remorse. I will never do it again."So said Ipswich driver Dean Brown, who is banned from the road today, after being sentenced for assaulting his partner and driving while at more than two-and-a-half times the legal alcohol limit.

"I feel deep remorse. I will never do it again."

So said Ipswich driver Dean Brown, who is banned from the road today, after being sentenced for assaulting his partner and driving while at more than two-and-a-half times the legal alcohol limit.

At an earlier hearing the 22-year-old pleaded guilty to common assault and to driving while under the influence of excess alcohol.

Brown, of Hawke Road, Ipswich, also admitted not driving without insurance or valid test certificate and not driving in accordance with his licence.

Prosecutor Stephen Colman told South East Suffolk Magistrates Court yesterday that on December 13 last year police saw a red Fiat in College Street, Ipswich heading towards Cardinal Park.

The car, which did not have its lights on, was stopped and the driver – Brown – was breathalysed.

He also provided a blood test at the police station and was found to have 210 millilitres of alcohol in 100ml of blood – the legal limit is 80ml.

Brown also had no insurance, no valid test certificate and was not driving in accordance with his licence.

Mr Colman also said Brown assaulted his partner, Miss Smith, on January 3 after an argument.

He said: "He became violent and kicked the oven door and threw milk on the floor. They both went into the living room, where he grabbed her around the throat and pushed her into the chair.

"He slapped her with his left hand and shouted at her."

John Hughes, mitigating for Brown, told the court that Brown drove while under the influence of excess alcohol after again arguing with his partner.

He said: "He [Brown] accepts that they have a rocky relationship. Miss Smith and Mr Brown are still living together and she is very supportive of him.

"If they are drinking, they get into arguments. Clearly he would wish to address that. He needs to deal with anger in a different way than leads him to assault his partner. He is aware there are problems that need to be resolved."

Chairman of the bench Mick Hilton said: "You have got to get to grips with your anger and with your drinking. If you come back, you have got a pretty good idea of what will happen."

Brown was sentenced to a combination order. This comprised an 18-month community combination order and a 100-hour community punishment order.

He was also banned from driving for 24 months and his driving licence will be endorsed.

Speaking outside the court, Brown said: "I feel deep remorse and I will never do it again – drink drive or assault. I am going to try and get help with my drinking and my anger."

His partner Renee Smith, 20, of Hawke Road, added: "We are both still together. I am supporting him. The only reason we were having fights is because we were drinking heavily, but we have both stopped drinking."