A man was spared jail after chasing his girlfriend across the street and knocking her to the ground in a fit of drunken temper.

Kevan Callow, 34, left his partner Tania Johnson terrified for her life after storming into her home and smashing up some of her property.

Catherine Davies, prosecuting, told magistrates yesterday "explosive" rows were a regular feature of the couple's two-year relationship.

Callow, of Boundary Road, Hove, plagued Ms Johnson with a series of phone calls and messages on December 27 last year.

He turned up at her home at 7.45pm. When she cautiously opened the door, Callow thrust his hand through the gap and tried to grab her hair.

He barged into the house, shouting and swearing. He ripped the landline phone out of the wall and smashed her mobile phone to the floor.

Callow then picked up some bottles and threatened to smash them.

Mrs Davies told the court: "Ms Johnson was scared for her life."

She ran outside and across the road to a friend's house, but Callow followed her and pushed her to the ground. She suffered cuts and grazes to her left leg.

He tried to grab her again but she made her way over to her friend, who called the police.

When interviewed by police, Callow said he regretted his behaviour and wanted help with anger management.

He pleaded guilty to common assault. He was ordered to carry out 100 hours' community service and attend anger management and substance abuse treatment programmes.