STEVEN Blackman subjected his partner to three-days of battering after a catalogue of abuse spanning 12 years, Swindon magistrates heard.

Blackman, 32, admitted causing common assault to the woman on May 7, 8 and 9.

He told police it was sparked because he accused her of not writing to him while he was in prison.

Sentencing him to a two year community rehabilitation order, chairman of the bench David Holder told him: "You came very, very close to a prison sentence.

"This will probably be your last chance."

Blackman, of Meadowcroft, Upper Stratton, Swindon, was also requested to complete a domestic violence course and ordered to pay £55 costs.

Prosecuting, Lois Colley said on May 7 Blackman punched the woman in the mouth, splitting one of her teeth. Miss Colley said the woman slept on the lounge sofa after she found a pillow and quilt laying on the hall floor.

On May 8, Blackman struck the woman's right shoulder and kicked her in the back as she leaned into a fridge.

When she again slept on a sofa, he kicked her in the back, the court heard. When the woman told him she had called the police, Miss Colley said Blackman used a large kitchen knife and started hacking at her ponytail.

Blackman, who admitted the assaults when interviewed by police, said he had done it to annoy the woman and that he had slapped her for 12 years, and she had slapped him too.