A domestic assault victim claimed she was just as much to blame as her partner after he ended up in court.
Carl Robertson, 37, pinned his girlfriend down on the bed and grabbed her by the hair, a court heard.
He put his hand across his victim's mouth to prevent her calling out, said Spencer Elliott, prosecuting.
The woman eventually struggled free and ran to a neighbour's house to call the police.
Robertson, of Clarkes Road, Dovercourt, claimed his victim had come home in a bad mood - even though he had done the housework.
He went to the bedroom to watch TV but she followed him.
She started shouting and then "swung at him", the court heard.
Robertson said he was trying to defend himself and calm her down, but admitted he may have gone too far.
His victim later retracted her statement to police.
In a letter to the court she said she was equally to blame for the incident.
Robertson admitted assault at Colchester Magistrates' Court.
James Baird-Murray, mitigating, said: "He feels his anger-management skills are a little lacking."
Robertson was given a two-year community order and must go on domestic violence and alcohol treatment programmes.
He must also pay £60 costs.
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