A violent Ipswich man who hit and kicked his former partner after losing his temper while they were studying the Bible has been given a community order.

Sentencing 61-year-old Peter Pemberton Judge Martyn Levett quoted a bible verse from Proverbs to him which said: “Better a patient person than a warrior.”

Ipswich Crown Court heard that Peter Pemberton accused the woman of not taking in what they were reading and of “not believing” and tried to hit her.

He had then become annoyed because she hadn’t told him she had received her benefit money and had slapped her, headbutted her, punched the side of her face and kicked her, said Robert Levack, prosecuting.

When she started crying and went to the bathroom he told her to stop or he would give her something to cry about, the court heard.

On another occasion after the woman decided to give Pemberton a second chance, he had slapped her causing a cut to her lip while losing his temper with her while they were studying religious scriptures, said Mr Levack.

Pemberton, of Birkfield Drive, Ipswich, admitted assaulting the woman and was given a three-year community order, a rehabilitation activity requirement, a £50 fine and banned from contacting the woman for five years.

Sentencing Pemberton, Judge Levett said: "Domestic violence affected 10 million people every year and one in four women in relationships suffered domestic abuse."

He also said that 92% of men who assaulted their female partners had consumed alcohol.

“Alcohol affects the mood, causes mood swings and leads to impatience,” he added.