A man who threw scalding hot coffee over his long-term partner then hit her over the head with the empty cup has been jailed for 12 weeks.
Fergus Heffernan had been drinking in the early hours of the morning of January 16 when he made expletive-laden demands for a cup of coffee from his partner of 11 years.
She eventually relented and slammed the coffee down on the table in front of him - at which point he threw the scalding liquid over her, Northampton Magistrates Court heard on Thursday.
She responded by throwing her cup of tea over him, after which Heffernan hit her on the head with his empty cup.
The blow cut her head open, but the wound did not require stitches.
Heffernan, aged 59, Queens Park Parade, Queens Park, Northampton pleaded guilty to one charge of assault by beating. In addition to the prison term, he was made the subject of a three-year restraining order.
Nicky Adelekan, prosecuting, told the court the couple’s relationship had been going “steadily downhill” for 12 months due to Heffernan’s drink problem.
She said: “The defendant was extremely drunk at the time. He tried to claim his partner had thrown the tea over him first. He denied having a drink problem.”
Sentencing Heffernan, District Judge Tim Daber said: “You used the cup as a weapon, and the drink. It represents a breach of trust that you would not normally expect in a relationship.”
There was no indication given in court to any injuries suffered by the victim from Heffernan throwing the coffee over her.