A “jealous and possessive” Colchester man checked his partner’s pulse as she lay on the floor after he repeatedly punched her and stamped on her face, it has been alleged.

Joshua Smith’s face was “expressionless” during the alleged attack on his partner Charlotte Munns on May 14 this year, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Miss Munns was lying motionless on the floor when Smith allegedly took her pulse twice.

“Perhaps he thought he’d gone too far on this occasion,” said David Wilson, prosecuting.

He said the couple had been in a relationship for about 10 months and described Smith as “jealous and possessive”.

He alleged that on another occasion Smith had thrown a hot spatula at Miss Munns scalding her back.

Smith, 27, of Straight Road, Colchester, denies wounding Miss Munns with intent to cause her grievous bodily harm and assaulting her causing actual bodily harm.

After his arrest Smith answered no comment to questions and threatened to knock-out the interviewing police officer.

Cross-examined by Folishade Abiodun, Miss Munns admitted she had told Smith she still loved him since the alleged offences.

She denied she was lying about how her injuries were caused.

The trial continues.