A concerned neighbour called police after hearing a woman scream "I can't breathe, you're suffocating me", a court has heard.

The man was woken at about 5.40am to screaming coming from a next-door property in Great Yarmouth as Benjamin Comer, 43, assaulted his partner.

Norwich Crown Court heard the neighbour called police after he heard "very loud" screams and Comer "shouting at a female in an aggressive tone".

Norwich Crown CourtNorwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest) Ian James, prosecuting, said the man in the neighbouring property heard the woman say: "Get off my neck. I can't breathe - you're suffocating me".

He said the man called 999 as the commotion was still going on and estimated it lasted around 10 minutes.

Mr James said the victim thought Comer had become upset with her as she had gone out and he was "jealous of what she might be getting up to".

He said it had been a "distressing episode" for the victim, who suffered a bloody nose and bleeding to her right ear.

Comer, of Isaacs Road, Yarmouth, appeared at court on Friday after previously admitting assault occasioning actual bodily harm on September 25 last year.

The defendant, who has 55 previous convictions for 137 offences, including for causing grievous bodily harm and battery, was sentenced to nine months imprisonment by Recorder Michael Turner.

He said: "There is far too much domestic violence that goes on in the course of life in this country between partners."

Recorder Turner added Comer had a "disgraceful criminal record" but gave him credit for his guilty plea.

Andrew Oliver, mitigating, said the victim had come back to Comer's in the early hours of the morning and was making a noise which he was concerned about and he "put his hand over her mouth to stop her shouting".

He said it had been a "spontaneous reaction" after which they both went out to the back of the property and were talking calmly until police arrived.

Mr Oliver said the injuries sustained were not the most serious and Comer should receive credit for his plea.

The prosecution has been given 14 days to apply for a restraining order should the victim in the case decide that is what she wants.