A disabled Suffolk man who assaulted his ex-partner after she refused to let him get into bed with her has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Steven Cooper and Tina Rudd were still living under the same roof after their 12 year relationship came to and had agreed Cooper would sleep downstairs on a sofa while Ms Rudd slept upstairs, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

On January 10 Ms Rudd went out for the evening with friends and when she got home she went upstairs to bed, said Godfried Duah, prosecuting.

While she was in bed Cooper walked into the room and said he wanted to get into bed with her and there was a row when Ms Rudd told him to get out as they were no longer together.

During the argument Cooper had told Ms Rudd: “This is my bed. I’ll sleep where I want.” He had elbowed her in the back, punched her in the face and pulled her hair.

He also kicked Ms Rudd’s teenage son who came to her aid in the stomach, said Mr Duah.

When police officers arrived at the property Cooper picked up a knife and refused to let them in the kitchen, He threatened to kill the officers and jabbed the knife at them through a gap in the door.

A parva spray was used and an officer with a taser was also called to the property, said Mr Duah.

The incident ended after 20 minutes when Cooper put the knife down but as he was taken away he said: “Tell Tina I’m going to kill her when I get out.”

Cooper, 46, who now lives in a Higher Drive, Lowestoft, admitted affray and two offences of assault by beating. He was given a 14 month prison sentence suspended for two years; two years supervision; and was ordered to attend a Building Better Relationships programme.

He was also banned by a restraining order from contacting Ms Rudd and going to her home in Salisbury Road, Lowestoft, for five years and ordered to pay a £100 victim surcharge.

Sentencing Cooper, Recorder Martyn Levett said he had become involved in a “spiralling” violent incident after he had been drinking.

He said Cooper had been suffering from back pain and had been fed-up with sleeping on the sofa.

“You decided to see if it would be possible for you to lie down on your partner’s bed,” said the judge.

He said that instead of leaving the room Cooper had assaulted Ms Rudd and her son an then been threatening to police officers. Jude Durr, for Cooper, said his client was registered disabled and had been suffering from depression.