A MARLBOROUGH man who attacked the mother of his children in a drunken rage has again been spared jail.

Benjamin Collins was on a suspended sentence for drug dealing when he set about the woman in a row over his tobacco.

Collins, of Cherry Orchard, Marlborough, pleaded guilty to common assault and criminal damage to her mobile phone.

After hearing the 34-year-old had work as a steel fabrication installer and had tackled his addiction a judge imposed a community order.

Rob Welling, prosecuting, said Collins was at home with his partner on the evening of March 16, with children aged two years and 11 weeks in the house.

Collins asked her if she knew where his tobacco was, he said, then got angry when she said she didn't.

"If Ben doesn't get his way he will usually have a tantrum. It is as if the world is about him when he loses his temper," she told the police.

She was in bed with the two-year-old when Collins yanked her by the ankles and pulled her on to the floor, winding her.

The burly former fireman then pushed her down with his knee and as she hit him to try and get him off her, he slapped her back.

As she tried to get the children away he again yanked her off the bed, winding her for a second time.

Mr Welling said Collins was arrested and seemed to be aggrieved at what his partner had done to him and said in interview that she gave as good as she got.

In February last year he was given a two-year jail term suspended for 24 months after admitting possessing cocaine and cannabis with intent to supply.

The previous August police raided his home at Baylie Acre where they found both drugs hidden under his bed.

Officers also seized his mobile phone which was littered with messages showing he had been dealing drugs, turning over about £300,000.

He insisted that after becoming an addict he only started selling the class A drug to fund his own use as he could buy it much cheaper in bulk.

On an average week he would sell about 20 deals at £100 a gram, but never made any real profit because of his own use, he insisted.

He was also told to do 250 hours of unpaid work, but that was quashed because he claimed he was unfit to do it due to his bad back.

Will Rose, defending, said Collins had struggled to cope after leaving his fire service job.

"He recognises that alcohol and drugs do not make him an attractive character," he said, adding he was now medicated for his back problem.

Passing sentence, Judge Robert Pawson said "If you appear in front of a court again you are unlikely to get another bite of the cherry."

He imposed an 18-month community order with a curfew on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for two months and probation work to include a relationship programme.