A JEALOUS boyfriend swung a hammer at his partner of two months after accusing her of sleeping with other men.
Dean Michael Smith also strangled Marina Matthews and gouged her eyes after bursting into her house.
Smith, 39, had been released without charge after being arrested for attacking Miss Matthews because she no longer wanted to press charges.
Within hours of a bail condition banning him from contacting her being removed on April 10, he went to her flat in east Hull brandishing a hammer.
Nigel Clive, prosecuting at Hull Crown Court, said: "He turned up and started tapping at the windows with a hammer.
"He started abusing her and calling her names and accusing her of sleeping with other men.
"She opened the door and he swung the hammer towards her, but she managed to duck out of the way.
"The hammer hit the wall and caused a large hole."
Smith then pushed her inside the house and strangled her and gouged her eyes as she lay on the floor.
He punched her several times in the face before two neighbours came to her aid and he fled.
Seven hours later, he returned to her home and accused her of having another man inside.
When he went to search the flat, she went into the communal area, but he dragged her back inside by her hair.
Mr Clive said: "She was screaming for her neighbours but no one came to her assistance. By this point, she was on the floor.
"He pulled her along the carpet by her hair into the flat."
Miss Matthews' neighbours had called police, who arrived and arrested Smith. He was later released on bail, with a condition not to contact her.
However, on April 16, he went to barge his way into her flat and began shouting at her, throwing things and trying to punch her.
Mr Clive said: "She managed to push him away and pinned him up against the bathroom door, shouting that she wasn't going to let him hit her any more.
"She walked away and he pushed her to the floor, sat on top of her and took hold of her throat. He was squeezing her neck and gouging her eyes.
"She managed to ask him why he was doing this if he loved her, which seemed to affect him and he let go.
"As she was getting up, he grabbed her ponytail and pulled her around the room."
Smith then left the flat, but returned again the following day and kicked the door open, despite Miss Matthews and her two friends pressing their backs against it.
Police were called when Miss Matthews pressed a panic alarm that had been installed in her home.
After he was arrested, Smith repeatedly headbutted the inside of the police van, causing £190 of damage.
The court heard police had been called to violence between Smith and Miss Matthews on four previous occasions.
He has also previously been convicted of assaulting an ex-partner and his mother.
Representing Smith, Paul Norton said: "His relationship with the complainant was short-lived and volatile. Both of them have problems with alcohol.
"He has little recollection of events but accepts the evidence against him."
Smith admitted three charges of common assault, one count of affray, criminal damage and threatening violence to secure entry.
Judge Michael Mettyear, the Honorary Recorder of Hull and the East Riding, jailed Smith for 18 months.
He said: "You have a worrying propensity for violence against women because of your temper and drinking.
"These offences were of a nuisance and nasty nature because you can't stand not having your own way. It is wholly unacceptable.
"It is no excuse that she was a drinker, no excuse the relationship was volatile.
"Pushing women around, punching them and strangling them is not acceptable and only custody can be justified."
