A RECOVERING alcoholic has admitted assaulting his former girlfriend.

Christopher Paul Williamson, 42, of Bunbury House bail hostel, pleaded guilty to one count of domestic abuse when he appeared before Vale Royal Magistrates Court on Thursday.

The incident occurred at a flat on Highfield Place, Castle, on June 9, where the defendant had lived with his girlfriend.

The couple had recently split and the victim was alone when Williamson called round, banged doors and windows demanding to be allowed inside.

The victim noticed he was drunk but after 15 minutes of persistent knocking she decided to let him in so not to cause any more damage to the property. But Williamson became verbally abusive, demanding some of his belongings and knocked her over. She hit her head on the skirting board and was left unconscious for what she claims was about an hour.

When she woke up, Williamson had left and she phoned the police and paramedics. Williamson was interviewed by police two days later but denied the assault.

Chris Johnson, defending, told magistrates: 'He has unfortunately a long-standing alcoholic problem... which has left him in all sorts of difficulties in the past.

'He has absolutely no recollection of the assault. He woke up in a wheelie bin and accepts that he was in the area. He has the alcohol problem which clearly still needs dealing with and he has been receiving treatment for.'

Magistrates gave Williamson a suspended two-month custodial sentence, lasting 12 months, and was ordered to pay £200 compensation and £75 costs.