A MAN who threw his girlfriend into a canal and then held her head under water has avoided being sent to jail.

Mark Tomlinson's victim managed to scramble to the banking before flagging down a passing motorist in a distressed state.

Preston Crown Court also heard that he and Joanna Lewin had apparently seen each other since and were having a physical relationship again.

Tomlinson, aged 33, of Beach Road, Morecambe had pleaded guilty to offences of affray and actual bodily harm assault. He was given a combined sentence of 100 hours community punishment and two years community rehabilitation with a condition to attend a domestic violence programme

The court was told how a row occurred during a night out in Morecambe. Mr Richard Haworth, prosecuting, said the woman - the mother of his child - was in his car. She was so frightened by his behaviour that she pretended to pass out.

It occurred in November last year. The defendant drove to a bridge near the Lancaster canal, close to Torrisholme. He shook her and threatened to kill her.

Mr Haworth said "He dragged her along a road to the bridge. She was terrified and made herself limp in his hands, but he still threw her into the canal.

"He jumped in after her and forced her head below the surface on two occasions."

Miss Lewin managed to get to the banking and got out of the water before flagging down a passing car in a distressed state. She had sustained teeth injuries and facial bruising. Defence barrister Mr Chris Hudson said the two had a tempestuous physical and emotional relationship. Every so often the relationship was punctuated with spats.

"Sexual relations last took place seven days ago. It is difficult to reconcile what happened with what has happened subsequently.

"He took her to the canal, one of the locations where they had been previously. He was hoping that would prompt some reconciliation.

"He is highly strung and emotional. He was hoping that might salvage something out of the wreckage that evening, but it was inevitable that he made it worse."

Judge Andrew Blake passed a combined sentence of 100 hours community punishment and two years community rehabilitation, with a condition that that defendant attend a domestic violence programme. He told Tomlinson, who had no previous convictions: "It is beyond belief the way you behaved that evening. It is obvious that the relationship between the two of you is exceedingly tempestuous and unworkable.

"It is plain from her behaviour that night that she was absolutely terrified by what happened. This was a very calculated episode of behaviour."

The judge said he was taking a risk with the defendant in passing the sentence he did.