A FATHER has avoided jail despite leaving his girlfriend with “horrific” injuries following a row over childcare costs.

Dominic Clark, 31, of Ormonde Avenue, Rochford punched his partner leaving her with a split lip and bump on her head during the incident at her home in Shoebury last year.

He appeared at Basildon Crown Court on Friday where the court heard he had two previous convictions for attacking the same woman.

According to his mitigation, Clark suffered suicidal thoughts after the incident.

Prosecuting Brian Reece said: “He and the victim have known each other since 2012 and have two children together. On June 9 last year he had stayed at the home, after moving out due to his erratic behaviour caused by drink and drug use.

“She mentioned about childcare costs and asked for money and he got angry and told her all she wanted was his money and she said she knew he’d be violent after this.

“He hit her in the face while she was showering, and cut her lip with a single blow and she hit her hit from the blow. The split lip will leave a scar and he told police she was verbally abusing him.

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“He says he slapped her, well if it was a slap it may have well been a punch.”

Mitigating, Madeleine Deasy, said Clark was reliant on Class A drugs.

She said: “These are very nasty injuries and this is a very serious case with an on going impact on the victim.

“He was reliant on Class A drugs but there’s been a significant reduction in this and he suffered significant childhood trauma. He suffered with anxiety and says he’s never felt like more of a scumbag.”

Recorder William Hansen sentenced Clarke to 16 months in prison suspended for two years, as well as handing him 10 days rehabilition, a five-year restraining as well as community service.

Speaking directly to Clarke, he said: “You delivered a single blow to the face and it’s clear to me you were angry. The pictures of the injuries are horrific and it was a significant violent assault.

“She needed stitches and it would have been a terrifying ordeal for her.”