A MAN who threatened to kill his partner in front of their nine-month-old son has been sentenced.

Liam Arkley, aged 35, of Willinton Crescent in Weston, pleaded guilty to common assault against Veronika Kocurova and criminal damage to property valued under £5,000 on May 11.

Arkley appeared at North Somerset Courthouse for sentencing last Thursday and was given a 12-month community order with a supervision requriement and sentenced to complete 80 hours of unpaid work.

Police were called to an argument between Arkley and Ms Kocurova on March 29.

Prosecutor Ian Dawes said: “The parties were at the complainant’s address, there was an argument and she told police she wanted Arkley removed.”

Ms Kocurova told officers Arkley had smashed her phone down on the bed post on March 26 which caused it to break and spoke of an assault which took place on January 3.

Mr Dawes said: “The defendant was verbally aggressive to her and when she told him to leave he grabbed her throat, causing some difficulty breathing.

“He said to her ‘do you want me to kill you in front of your son?’. The nine-month-old then woke up and the defendant left the property.”

Arkley told the court he had been drinking at the time of the incidents and said: “When I am drinking I am not a nice person. I am attending counselling and I am attending AA meetings.

“I’m more motivated and forward-thinking and everything is starting to come back. I am extremely remorseful for what I have done. I believe I can be a better person and I’m trying to be.”

As well as the commuity order Arkley was ordered to pay £249 compensation, a £60 victim surcharge and £85 costs. He was also given a 12-month restraining order preventing him from contacting Ms Kocurova directly or indirectly and attending her address.