A Newport man who assaulted his partner after he found out she was seeing another man has been given a suspended sentence.

John Wall, aged 43, of Fields Park Road, eventually pleaded guilty to one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm midway through a trial last month.

Cardiff Crown Court heard on Thursday how Wall turned on his partner in the early hours of July 5 as she slept naked beside him. He had found messages on her phone and discovered she was having a sexual relationship with another man.

James Wilson, prosecuting, told the court that the victim, who had an "on-off" relationship with Wall for around three years, was woken by the defendant, who had his hands around her neck.

He told the victim to "get your keys and drive home". Wall, Mr Wilson said, then pulled her out of bed and dragged her into the living room where he forced her to leave a voicemail message on another man's phone.

Mr Wilson told the court that the woman feared she was going to be killed and was "gasping for air" as he repeatedly grasped her around the neck in an ordeal that lasted around three hours, according to the victim. Wall then refused to allow her to leave but she eventually managed to escape. She suffered bruising to her neck and wrist.

The court heard how the victim described Wall as an "obsessive, pre-meditating and controlling" man.

Jeremy Jenkins, defending, said: "It was, in his words, a moment of madness. He is bitterly, bitterly sorry for his actions."

Mr Jenkins said Wall was remanded in custody for a week after his arrest on July 20 this year, and had lost 10 pounds during that time because it was a "frightening, sanitary lesson for him".

He added: "The defendant is absolutely devastated, ashamed and embarrassed to be in the position he's in."

Judge Neil Bidder QC said: "You lost your temper in a fit of jealousy. You squeezed her throat on a number of occasions.

"This was a serious assault on a completely vulnerable woman.

"You are very remorseful for what you have done. It's clear that you understand the gravity of what you did. It is clearly an isolated incident and, judging from the references I've read, very much out of character."

He gave Wall a nine month prison sentence suspended for 12 months with supervision by the probation service. Wall was also ordered to attend 16 sessions of respectful relationship specified activity, was told not to contact the victim until a further court order, and was told to pay a £100 victim surcharge.