A STOURBRIDGE labourer who brutally punched his partner in the mouth after downing a cocktail of drink and drugs has avoided being locked up because she wants to rekindle their relationship.

Brett Peck left Emma Oliver needing internal and external stitches in her badly split lip - an injury described as "very painful," by Judge Nicholas Webb at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

He told 33-year-old Peck: "This was a serious offence against the lady you were in a relationship with and with whom you hope to continue.

"I have read a letter from her speaking well of you and it expresses the wish you can build a happy and lasting relationship. The court does not want to come between the two of you."

Samantha Powis, defending, said the attack followed a "momentary loss of temper" by Peck and he had called an ambulance when he realised the seriousness of her injury.

Miss Powis told the court: "The two had been in a relationship for some considerable time and she admits she knows how to push his buttons.

"There is no pattern of domestic abuse. He did not have proper control of his temper on this one occasion and he was visibly upset when he saw photographs of what he had done."

Peck, of Manor Lane, Norton, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm and was given a 15-month jail term suspended for two years.

He was further placed on Supervision for two years and ordered to obey a ten-week curfew by the Judge between the hours of 10pm and 7am.

Mark Rees, prosecuting, said the couple had been out drinking together and Peck had about eight to ten pints before sharing cocaine with his partner at her home in Cherry Street, Norton.

Miss Oliver had decided to sleep in the spare room and Peck dragged her out by the hair before punching her hard in the mouth. He later told police after his arrest that she could be "nasty with her words."