Hull Crown Court heard last Monday that Michael Hall, 35, assaulted Haley Cross when she came home from work and found him drinking.

He attacked her after arguing about money and saying he wanted her out the flat they shared for four months.

Prosecuting Jeremy Evans told the court Hall was drunk when he grabbed Cross by the throat in the bathroom and pushed her against a wall on April 23.

“She became frightened and ran downstairs. He stuck one foot out and kicked the crown of her head causing her to cry,” said Mr Evans.

She went to neighbour Paul Armitage and his partner for sanctuary only for Hall to appear with an eight-inch kitchen knife threatening to jab it at her throat.

Mr Evans said the neigbours in West Street, Bridlington, were scared as Hall tossed the blade from his left hand to right hand.

Hall, who has a previous conviction for assaulting a girlfriend, was questioned by police charged with assault and affray.

He attacked Ms Cross again on May 19 after re-kindling their “on-off” relationship of about a year.

On that occasion she returned from work at around 9.30pm to her new flat in Horsforth Avenue, Bridlington, to find he had been drinking.

Mr Evans said Ms Cross went to bed. Hall joined her some time later and began annoying her.

She told him she was going to sleep in the front room, but before she had got there Hall assaulted her again.

He put her in a headlock and dragged her into the living room where she was punched in the left eye, said Mr Evans.

She was able to struggle out of the headlock and ran to a neighbours again at 2am to raise the alarm.

Defence barrister Victoria Lancaster said Hall was one of those rare men who wanted help.

She said he was a witness to domestic violence in his youth between his mother and father and the concern was for him to be diverted away from this sort of behaviour.

She said Hall had admitted the further charge of battery and he was a man who admitted he had a problem and was worried about what he would do.

Judge Shaun Spencer ordered the case should be adjourned until July 28 for a report.

Hall, now of Cromwell Road, Hedon, was refused bail and remanded in custody.

Judge Spencer told him: “I make it clear, for the record, I am giving no indication by asking for a report of the sentence, but the most likely outcome, depending on the report, would be custody.”

Hall admitted charges of assault, affray and battery.