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A ham-fisted man who attacked his partner with a can of corned beef because she didn’t help him open it has been put behind bars.

Dennis Thompson became frustrated with the tinned meat when he couldn’t get into it after getting home from the pub hungry.

Annoyed that girlfriend, Anna Goosen, hadn’t stepped in to help him, the 61-year-old threw it at her.

A court heard the corned beef can split open her head and she was left with blood pouring from the wound, which had to be stapled shut.

Now, Thompson has been locked up for more than a year at Newcastle Crown Court after he admitted unlawful wounding.

Prosecutor Michael Bunch told the court the couple had been out together on September 10 and returned home in the early evening.

Thomspon, who had consumed eight pints, tried to open the tin for his supper.

Mr Bunch said: “He appeared to be having difficulty opening a tin of corned beef.

“He became aggressive as a result of his frustration and started to shout at her.

“She describes him, in a sense, just ranting, as a result of his inability to open the tin.

“She attempted not to pay any attention and was watching television in the living room.

“The next thing she was aware of was a crack to the back of her head.”

Miss Goosen, who had three pints during the day out, called an ambulance when she felt blood was dripping down the back of her head and was taken to hospital.

The blood-stained corned beef tin was recovered by the police at the attack scene.

The court heard Thompson went to bed after the attack, which he could not remember due to the amount he had to drink, and had not realised the harm he caused.

Thompson, of Canterbury Street, Walker, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding and breaching a previous suspended prison sentence. He was locked up for a total of 14 months.

Judge Edward Bindloss told him: “You were trying, and failing, to open a tin of corned beef. That caused you frustration.

“Your partner did nothing to assist you. Why should she?

“She felt a crack to the back of her head.

“A tin of corned beef was used as a weapon to strike her to the back of the head. It was a single blow.”

The court heard there was no history of domestic violence during the couple’s five year relationship and the judge accepted what happened was a “one off”.

Judge Bindloss said the violence was fuelled by “alcohol and frustration”.

Sue Hirst, defending, said the couple are now back together and Thompson is “extremely sorry” for what he did.

Miss Hirst said: “It is apparent he was trying to make something to eat.

“He does not recall physically throwing the item but his view would be he probably threw it in frustration, rather than deliberately trying to hit her.

“He went to bed without realising she was actually injured.”