A BRIDGWATER man who lost his temper and assaulted his girlfriend outside a shop then grabbed her friend by the throat when she intervened to help.

Matthew Wormleighton had been drinking at The Arrow pub in Yeovil with both women but was thrown out after becoming abusive towards them.

When he found his partner outside the nearby Tesco Express store he grabbed her by her neck and told her she was coming home with him.

Then, when her friend tried to defend her, the defendant assaulted her as well and tried to grab his girlfriend a second time before both women managed to escape to the safety of the shop and the police were called.

Wormleighton, 42, of Ashleigh Road, pleaded guilty to assaulting both women by beating them during the incident at Abbey Manor Park in Yeovil on January 12.

Somerset Magistrates, sitting at Yeovil, sentenced the defendant to a 12 month community order with 150 hours unpaid work and a 25 day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.

He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and an £85 victim surcharge.