A MAN who beat up his paralysed partner on two occasions has been branded 'despicable' by magistrates.

Nigel Albert Schofield, 56, attacked terrified wheelchair-bound Karen Storey 12 days apart, leaving her to be found injured by carers and in tears.

The defendant struck Miss Storey's leg, which she wears a caliper on, kicked and punched her, hit her repeatedly and poured red wine over her.

But magistrates did not jail Schofield after a previous bench recommended he receive a community sentence.

Schofield, of Henry Street, Nelson, had earlier admitted two counts of assault by beating last August and had been told by a previous bench he would be given a non custodial penalty.

He received 180 hours' unpaid work and was told to pay £300 compensation and £250 costs.

Chairman James McGowan slammed Schofield's conduct as "despicable," and said he was lucky he was not going to prison.

He said: "This lady was vulnerable, in a wheelchair and not able to defend herself. You should feel embarrassed and ashamed of yourself."

He added: "Our hands were tied today. Different benches have different views."

Bill Maude, prosecuting, told the court at about 1am on August 19, the victim was in her wheelchair in the lounge and the defendant was asleep on the setee. He had been drinking wine and punch all evening and she had had some whisky.

He woke up, smashed a CD, became angry, turned to face his partner and hit her. He then struck the foot she wore caliper on.

Schofield hit the victim on the back, Miss Storey, 45, covered her face with the one arm she could move and shouted to him to get off.

He just kept on striking her and she was unable to defend herself and felt helpless.

Mr Maude said Schofied then picked up a bottle of red wine and poured it over the victim.He slapped her on the back, stopped and asked for a cigarette and when he didn't get one, hit her again and left.

A carer who arrived in the morning found her with reddening to her arm, chest and back, two swollen toes and smelling of wine. The victim was crying continually.

Mr Maude said on Aug 31 Schofield was to collect his belongings from Miss Storey when a carer was present because she was frightened of him. He arrived early and lost his temper when the victim told him to go.

He kicked and punched Miss Storey, hit her 12 to 15 times, refused to leave, carried on striking her and then stopped and left. Her carer found her bruised and with a swollen foot and red knee the next morning.

Hilary Doherty, defending, said the offences were "serious, unpleasant and wholly unacceptable."