A chef who grabbed his partner by the throat after a row about the family cat has been sentenced to community service.

Adam Ghazouani admitted an offence of common assault on a female.

Prosecuting advocate Barry Swain told the court how 40-year-old Ghazouani had been out drinking between 9pm and 11.45pm on December 9.

He returned home but later that evening woke his partner at 4.30am and an argument started.

Ghazouani was said to have opened all the doors and windows while cooking and this had resulted in the cat, which was a house cat, escaping.

His partner said that they had argued about it and he had then lunged at her with his forehead making contact with her.

Mr Swain said that it was not being suggested that this was a full headbutt but it was clearly unpleasant.

The woman said that Ghazouani then pushed her against her wall with his hand on her chest and then grabbed her throat, though it was not suggested that she had trouble breathing.

He was said to be shouting and swearing and was arrested when police arrived.

When interviewed Ghazouani, who lives in Malew Street, Castletown, gave a similar account to the woman but initially said that he had done nothing.

He said that the cat had gone missing and he had woken her up to help find it.

However, he later retracted that statement and admitted that he had ’got in her face’ and grabbed her throat.

The court heard that he has no previous convictions, but a caution for common assault in 2014.

A probation report said that the couple had been together for two years and that Ghazouani was deeply ashamed of his behaviour on the night.

The report said that he had self-referred to Motiv8.

Defence advocate James Peterson said: ’I would submit Mr Ghazouani is very remorseful. He hopes to salvage the relationship with his partner. He accepts there was no excuse for his behaviour.’

Magistrates sentenced Ghazouani to 100 hours community service. He was ordered by magistrates to pay prosecution costs of £125.