A violent chef who attacked his ex-partner after ignoring a restraining order banning contact with her had declared to the victim: "I’m only doing this because I love you,” a court heard.

Jamie Karl Edwards, aged 30, of Gellilydan, Blaenau Ffestiniog, had pulled Sarah Kelly’s hair, rubbed a screwdriver against her, and punched and strangled her, magistrates at Llandudno were told.

Prosecutor James Neary said the victim’s nose bled, she had two black eyes, extensive bruising to the neck, and small red marks on the neck from the screwdriver. “She thought she was going to pass out. He said: 'I want you to stop breathing.' She told him to stop. Eventually he loosened his grip,” Mr Neary alleged.

Miss Kelly ran to a pub across the road to get help and police were alerted. The pair had been drinking in a pub earlier before they went to the victim’s home and Edwards turned on her.

The prosecutor added: "It doesn’t get any more serious than this when charged as a common assault.”

Edwards appeared in custody before the court. He pleaded guilty to contacting Sarah Kelly when banned by a restraining order, driving when disqualified for four years earlier this month, and common assault and criminal damage on November 18.

He was under a suspended sentence for failing to provide a breath test.

The magistrates remanded him in custody for sentencing at Caernarfon crown court next month.

Andrew Scott, defending, said there was a history of contact by Miss Kelly with Edwards since the restraining order was made in April. The lawyer made no application for bail.