A WESTON man has had a restraining order handed to him after forcing his forearm against his ex-girlfriend’s neck and trying to prevent her escaping his flat.

Darren Larking was fined after a row with Phoebe Clancey, which caused neighbours to call the police and saw him ‘sneer’ at her after she fell down stairs and hit her head on glass.

The 33-year-old pleaded guilty to one charge of assault by beating at North Somerset Courthouse on May 29.

The attack happened at Larking’s home in Moorland Road on April 24, just days after the couple had broken up.

A neighbour called the police at 4.40pm after hearing the pair arguing.

Richard Nicholls, prosecuting, said: “Miss Clancey left, taking refuge at the neighbouring property. She said he had refused to let her out of the flat and, straddling her, forced his forearm against her neck.

“She eventually managed to get free and he followed her, shouting.”

Miss Clancey fell down the stairs during her exit, and hit her head on a glass pane at the bottom, sustaining minor head injuries.

Miss Clancey, in her statement to police, said: “I remember getting to the fourth step from the bottom and I felt a touch on my hip. I wasn’t sure if it was deliberate or not.

“At the bottom, I felt Darren standing over me and he said ‘oh look you have hit your head’ in a sneery and sarcastic manner.”

Owen Strickland, defending, said Larking only stopped his ex-partner from leaving because he wanted to talk about the end of their relationship.

He said: “My client accepts there was an argument over her seeing someone else.

“He did close the door on her to some extent.”

Mr Stickland stressed Larking did not push Miss Clancey down the stairs, which the prosecution accepted.

Chair of the bench, Chris Barke, fined Larking £73 and ordered him to pay £85 costs and £20 victim surcharge.

The 12-month restraining order bans Larking from visiting the homes of Miss Clancey and her mother.