A 23-year-old man who choked his girlfriend and bit her nose has been labelled “a coward and a drunk” by a judge.

Matthew Hornby, of Bradford Road, Shipley, was committed to the Crown Court for sentence after he pleaded guilty before Bradford and Keighley magistrates to criminal damage to a flat door on October 6 and causing Jamie-Lee Smith actual bodily harm on November 3.

He was yesterday sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, with supervision, 100 hours of unpaid work and a three-month overnight curfew order.

Judge Jonathan Rose said it was “a dreadful sustained assault”.

He spared Hornby immediate imprisonment only because he was a carer for his uncle and Miss Smith was standing by him and present in court to support him.

Prosecutor Philip Standfast said Hornby kicked in the door to Miss Smith’s mother’s flat and entered the property in a threatening manner.

Less than a month later, he carried out a drunken attack on her at a house party, slapping her across the face and grabbing her hair.

Hornby then began to strangle Miss Smith, bit her on the nose and punched her in the face.

The court heard he had previous convictions for damaging property and threatening behaviour.

His solicitor advocate, Nigel Jamieson, said Hornby did not accept punching Miss Smith, but he conceded his behaviour that night was disgraceful.

He knew that prison was a very real possibility and he was determined to address his alcohol abuse and inability to control his temper.