CANCER sufferer Stephen Jannaway hit his estranged partner around the head with a glass pie dish when he flipped during an argument. The dish was smashed during the attack, and Jannaway punched Jill Bailey while she was on the floor. The incident only e

CANCER sufferer Stephen Jannaway hit his estranged partner around the head with a glass pie dish when he "flipped" during an argument.

The dish was smashed during the attack, and Jannaway punched Jill Bailey while she was on the floor.

The incident only ended when the couple's daughter ran in, telling him to stop, Ely magistrates were told on Thursday.

Jannaway and Ms Bailey had been living separate lives at their Soham home since Ms Bailey announced that she did not want to retire with him to Spain, and the couple had been "sniping" at each other.

In a statement to the police, Ms Bailey said this was the first time Jannaway had shown any violence towards her, and it was an unprovoked and unjustified attack.

"She felt shocked and dazed, and could not believe he had attacked her that way," prosecutor Emma Dmitriev told the court. Ms Bailey suffered from bruising and a sore head.

Mitigating, Guy Holland said Jannaway had worked extremely hard to build a life for himself and Ms Bailey. He had bought a property outright, and devoted himself to building a business.

"They were about to retire to Spain," he said. "Sadly my client was diagnosed with cancer, and at that time Ms Bailey said the relationship was over. She did not want to go to Spain with him, and wanted him to move out of the house."

On July 13, Ms Bailey was holding a pair of secateurs at the time of the incident, explained Mr Holland.

"In the heat of the moment, he lashed out and hit her with the bowl. He punched her, but cannot remember doing that. He just flipped, and is remorseful."

Jannaway, formerly of Fordham Road, Soham, and now living at Sandpiper, Isleham Marina, had admitted assault causing actual bodily harm. He was ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work, and pay £250 compensation for Ms Bailey's injuries, £25 for the broken dish, and £95 costs.