The complainant - now living in residential care - said she believed she had been “in love” with the defendant

A woman suffered a stroke after being punched “really hard “ to the back of the head by her jealous other half, a court heard.

The abused female was rushed to hospital two days after the attack after reporting “pins and needles” and a “dizzy” sensation.

After losing consciousness on a ward she was diagnosed with an intracerebral hemorrhage, however prosecutor Tom Doyle said there was insufficient medical evidence to say the injury was caused by the attack.

In a statement read to Sheffield Crown Court the complainant - now living in residential care - said she believed she had been “in love” with the defendant however their relationship had been “imperfect” and marked with “jealousy”.

Mr Doyle told the court how on August 8 last year her partner David Barnes, 63, had arrived home and started an argument about a man called Gary - who he thought she was being “unfaithful” with.

“She felt a thud to the back of her head consistent with a really hard punch,” said Mr Doyle.

“Two days later she started feeling dizzy and as though she had pins and needles. It was so bad that she asked the defendant to call an ambulance for her.”

The prosecutor said after his arrest Barnes claimed his victim had fallen and hit her head on a “door knob”. Judge Nigel Slater noted Barnes had a similar conviction “matching this behaviour” from 14 years ago.

Barnes, of Greenwood Crescent, Wickersley, was handed a 12-month community order with 15 rehabilitation activity days, 150 hours of unpaid work and a five-year restraining order. He admitted ABH.