MAGISTRATES have recommended 52-year-old Stuart Davies goes on a rehabilitation course for domestic violence offenders after he admitted common assault on his partner.

North Wiltshire magistrates in Chippenham were told on Monday that Davies, of Eveleigh Road, Wootton Bassett, had punched his partner twice in the face.

She had to escape by climbing through a window after he had locked her in the house and cut off the telephone so she could not call for help.

Davies, who is back together with his partner, was given a two-year community rehabilitation order and told to pay £55 costs.

Magistrates have recommended he participate, as part of the order, in a rehabilitation course, starting in January, for domestic violence offenders.

Graham Baskerville, the chairman of the bench, said Davies could face prison if he commits a similar offence.

"Courts take a dim view of domestic violence," said Mr Baskerville.

"We want to stop it and we believe the way to stop it is not necessarily a prison sentence and we want people to overcome a tendency to commit domestic violence. Let's hope this does not happen again because you might find the next bench not so lenient."

Rhys Davies, prosecuting, said Davies had met his partner at The Cross Keys Inn, in Wootton Bassett, at 12.30pm on November 15, after she had finished work.

The couple stayed at the pub until 4pm, before returning home.

Mr Davies said Davies later told police he had drank four pints of beer and three double vodkas at the pub.

"When they got home he had a sudden mood change," said Mr Davies.

"He became very moody and violent and leant over and struck her with his fist on the left side of her face."

The woman was knocked to the ground and when she tried to get up Davies grabbed her by the throat.

"The next thing, she received a second blow to the face under the left eye," said Mr Davies.

"The defendant dragged her up to the bedroom and he held on to her as he got ready to go to bed and would not let her move.

"The injured party waited until he had gone to sleep and went to call the police but found the telephone had been disconnected."

The woman got out of a window and went to a friend's house to call the police.

Mr Davies said the woman had suffered cuts and bruising below her eye, a lump to the side of her head, and said her right eye was virtually closed up.

He said she had been almost unable to see out of her eye when interviewed by police.

During interviewing, Davies told police his partner had started an argument with him and had attempted to leave the house.

He had restrained her by her shoulders because she was only wearing her underwear, and had locked the front door.

"He said he never punched her or held her by the throat," said Mr Davies.

"Asked to account for her injuries he said he could not do so and she might have done so when she went through the window."

Andrew Eddy, defending, said Davies regretted what had happened.

He said Davies had never done anything like that before.

"We are looking today at a regrettable incident and a situation that he deeply regrets," said Mr Eddy.