A woman headbutted and repeatedly punched her disabled partner after he woke her up from a snooze on the sofa.

Angelique Thomas, from Ashford, was left raging after he roused her from her slumber and said she should go to bed.

Magistrates heard how Thomas told her partner, who she cares for full-time, to “leave me the f*** alone” before attacking him.

He had to hold his hands up to his head to protect himself and told her to leave the flat or he would call the police.

The 41-year-old then decided to dial 999 herself. When officers turned up at their address in Bank Street she told them she didn’t think they’d come.

Her partner, who uses a frame for mobility indoors and a wheelchair to get about outside, told police he thought Thomas was frustrated with doing chores and cooking for him.

He also told officers he thought she had been struggling to cope because she had mental health issues, including bipolar.

Thomas was later charged with two offences and admitted assault by beating when she appeared in court on September 16. The CPS withdrew the other charge and she was bailed to return to court at a later date.

However, she broke her bail conditions on a number of occasions until she was remanded in custody on October 4.

Thomas, now of Brigadier Gardens in Ashford, returned to the dock at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court from custody on October 19 to be sentenced.

Magistrates heard the incident happened at about 3.15am on August 27.

Julie Farbrace, prosecuting, said: “He told officers he didn’t blame her [for the attack] and he decided he no longer wanted to support any prosecution and that she was his sole carer.

“He didn’t want her to be charged and said he was not in fear [of her], and that she didn’t deserve to be prosecuted.”

However, Ms Farbrace also told the court Thomas made admissions when interviewed by police that she had headbutted him twice. She also told officers she’d had three double shots of whisky.

She originally denied punching him multiple times but she said he had woken her up and that had made her angry and she had headbutted him.

The prosecutor also told the bench the assault was aggravated by the fact it happened in a domestic setting and that the victim was disabled.

Magistrates also heard Thomas had been suffering from depression and anxiety – and since being remanded had sought help from the prison’s GP to get some medication to help that.

They were told she would continue to get help when she was released from custody and that this incident had been a wake-up call for her.

Magistrates placed her on a 12-month community order which will see her complete 80 hours of unpaid work.

Thomas was also put on an alcohol treatment requirement for six months. She was ordered to pay £85 costs and a victim surcharge of £114.

Chairman of the bench, Dianne August said: “This was aggravated by the domestic environment and he’s a vulnerable person with a disability who relies on you.”