A 46-year-old man beat his former partner with a plastering tool on Christmas Day because he was angry at no longer being able to fully provide for his family, a court heard yesterday.

Robert Urbanski bit the woman’s hand as she tried to call the police, struck her across the face and then hit her with the tool’s wooden handle. He was brought in custody to Bradford and Keighley Magistrates Court when he pleaded guilty to common assault. Prosecutor Vincent O’Malley said the woman suffered cuts to her fingers and bruising to her forehead.

In mitigation, the court was told that Urbanski was Polish and culturally the head of the household.

He became anxious and depressed when his income dropped and he was no longer able to be the sole breadwinner for his ex-partner and their son.

The couple had a heated row on Christmas Day and Urbanski was violent for the first time in their ten-year relationship. He was ashamed and regretful and had spent two days in custody. Urbanski, of Wilkinson Terrace, Scholemoor, Bradford, was granted bail to come back to the court on January 23 after a report has been prepared by the probation service. Magistrates told him prison could be an option.