A LONG-TERM cannabis user has been told not to contact his wife after he attacked her during a heated argument.

Richard Diston struck his partner Christine on the left side of the head and then her arms as she raised them in self-defence during a row at their home in July.

The 55-year-old former industrial worker, of Severn Road in Weston, unleashed the assault after Christine said ‘whatever’ during the argument.

At a hearing at North Somerset Courthouse in St Georges, Diston pleaded guilty to the beating. He also admitted possessing 25 grams of cannabis, valued at about �420.

Mike Hartnell, prosecuting, said: “The argument began in the morning when Diston left the house at 11am, then when he returned at 3pm it continued.

“When Diston’s partner said ‘whatever’, he struck her on the left side of the head and then her arms.

“During a police interview Diston said he was angry that money he had left in the house was missing when he returned.”

Diston said he had not seen his wife since the incident and he had stopped using cannabis.

He claimed to have used the illegal substance for pain relief for a body pains caused during his career.

Magistrates fined Diston �85 for the assault and possession of cannabis and gave him a restraining order not to contact his wife for two years. He must also attend a domestic abuse programme.