FATHER of six John Smith was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid community work this week, after admitting that he assaulted his partner of 20 years when he got drunk on Easter Sunday. He had locked Lorraine Hart out of their Sutton home, and only le

FATHER of six John Smith was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid community work this week, after admitting that he assaulted his partner of 20 years when he got drunk on Easter Sunday.

He had locked Lorraine Hart out of their Sutton home, and only let her in when the children started to cry.

Smith shouted at Ms Hart, telling her she must sleep downstairs. He picked up the end of the sofa, and Ms Hart fell off. She decided to collect up the children and leave, said prosecutor Matthew Bradbury.

Smith pulled Ms Hart down on the bed, slapped her face and shouted. He pulled her hair, and their eight-year-old child tried to get between them. There was a struggle over some keys, and Ms Hart left with the children.

At an earlier hearing, 40-year-old Smith, of York Road, Sutton, had admitted assault. The court heard how the family had lost hundreds of pounds when the Farepak Christmas hamper company crashed, and Smith had been concerned about the family's debt at the time of the offence.

This week Smith told magistrates that the family had reunited. He was given a one year community order, with supervision by the probation service, and must pay £50 costs.