A heavy-drinking man was heard making "strange growling noises" as well as swearing and "talking like a lunatic" just minutes before he assaulted a pregnant woman and left a trail of damage in the house. Scott Taylor "pulled a full light fixture down from the ceiling" and damaged doors during a frightening series of incidents, Hull Crown Court heard.

Taylor, 35, of Beverley Road, Hull, admitted offences of assaulting the woman and causing criminal damage on April 17, 2021. He was originally accused of assault causing actual bodily harm and elected to have the case heard by a jury but he later pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of assault.

James Holding, prosecuting, said that Taylor had been in a relationship with the woman. She later said that he had a particular problem with drinking.

On the day of the incidents, she heard Taylor making "strange growling noises" in the living room and saying "f*** off, f*** off" repeatedly. "She thought that he must be talking to himself," said Mr Holding.

The woman went downstairs to get some painkillers and she asked Taylor what he was doing. "She knew that he had been drinking," said Mr Holding.

"He hid a can of beer behind the sofa. She challenged him about his drinking." Taylor punched the living room door and spat on the floor.

The woman challenged him about his behaviour. He was "talking like a lunatic" and snapped a DVD in half. He tried to snap a TV remote in half.

He began scratching at the arms and legs of the sofa and told the woman: "This is what I could do to you."

She contacted the police because she was concerned for the safety of her children. They attended but left shortly afterwards.

The woman later again went downstairs and Taylor told her: "This is all your fault." He tried to spit at her and she slapped him once.

"He pulled a full light fixture down from the ceiling," said Mr Holding. Taylor was also pulling the bathroom door off its hinges.

When the police arrived, the woman had head injuries but she did not mention an assault and Taylor was arrested only for causing criminal damage. Last year, however, she told police about the assault.

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"The defendant did not have permission to damage property," said Mr Holding. "The incident frightened her children." The woman was 15 weeks' pregnant with his child at the time.

Taylor had convictions for two previous offences of assault against a previous partner. He also had a caution for assault against another partner.

Harry Bradford, mitigating, said that Taylor pleaded guilty to the offences. He was originally accused of the more serious offence of assault causing actual bodily harm but the prosecution accepted his guilty plea to the lesser charge of assault.

Taylor regretted his behaviour and the offences happened a long time ago in 2021. There had been no further problems. Mr Bradford asked for a suspended sentence to be imposed.

Taylor was given a six-month suspended prison sentence, 100 hours' unpaid work, six months' drug rehabilitation and 20 days' rehabilitation.