A WOMAN was attacked by her partner after she voiced suspicions that he was having an affair. Ian Wilson lashed out and hit Sharon Timmins over the eye, and later pinned her down on their bed. The incidents took place after Ms Timmins found e-mails from o

A WOMAN was attacked by her partner after she voiced suspicions that he was having an affair.

Ian Wilson lashed out and hit Sharon Timmins over the eye, and later pinned her down on their bed.

The incidents took place after Ms Timmins found e-mails from one of Wilson's female work colleagues on his computer, Ely magistrates were told.

At an earlier hearing, 32-year-old Wilson had admitted assaulting his partner at their Soham home.

After reading a report from the probation service this week, city magistrates ordered Wilson to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and pay �60 costs.

The couple had been together for 13 years, but ran into problems three years ago when Wilson was unfaithful, said prosecutor Laura Mardell.

On November 26 Ms Timmins found suspicious e-mails on Wilson's computer, and challenged him.

In the early hours of the next morning the couple argued, Wilson lashed out at Ms Timmins, and pinned her down on a bed. Both parties damaged items of clothing belonging to each other.

In a victim statement, Ms Timmins said: "The whole situation makes me feel very low. I feel intimidated by him."

Mitigating, Michael Judkins said Wilson had reported the incident to police himself. He had been attacked by his partner, and so swung his arm out recklessly, injuring her eye. Wilson pinned his partner on the bed to calm her down, he added.

"There was substantial provocation," continued Mr Judkins. "She would not give up on the idea that there was something going on, which was completely wrong.