A DRUG-crazed man battered his ex-wife and pushed her down a flight of stairs in the middle of the night.

Richard Baskeyfield, 53, repeatedly punched and kicked Jacqueline Baskeyfield, 51, in a terrifying attack in her home during which she bit a hole through her tongue.

Liverpool Crown Court heard the couple married in 1989 and had two daughters, then divorced in 1993, but resumed living together. Baskeyfield was jailed for four years in 2009 over drug offences, but moved back in with his family after his release.

An incident of domestic violence was reported in 2011 and police were called, but no prosecution followed.

Chris Taylor, prosecuting, said that both daughters left home earlier this year and Mrs Baskeyfield moved into rented accommodation as the sole tenant.

He stayed there and had his own bedroom.

Detailing the attack Mr Taylor said: "This lengthy incident started about 1 am on Sunday, July 1 after Mrs Baskeyfield returned home from a family event and there was a discussion about why he had not been there and why he had run a bath but not used it.

"About 3 am he went into her room and started shouting at her that she had left TV on downstairs and it was on fire.

"She ignored those comments because he had acted in that way before. He has some mental health issues.

"He held burning paper under a fire alarm which her to get out of bed and go downstairs to sort things out.

"She had only gone down three steps when she felt a heavy push in the small of her back, just before which he said 'what have you done?'

"She tried to steady herself but ended up face down at the bottom of the stairs with pain in her back and head.

"He shouted, ‘why are you doing this to me?’. He began a sustained attack punched her to the head, chest and legs and kicked her in the back. She tried to curl into a ball to protect herself.

"The defendant continued shouting at her accusing her of having a man in her bed and asking she had not moved out. She tried to leave but he stopped her."

She managed to get to her bedroom but "he pushed her onto the bed and she was screaming and he tried to stop her by putting his hand over her face and tried to stop her leaving the room and claimed she was abusing him.

"She managed to get out of the room but fell and at that point he started dragging her back towards his bedroom, punching her to the head and shoulders.

"She managed to break free and ran downstairs and tried to get out but was again stopped by the defendant who pulled her into the back room.

"She managed to break free and opened the window and called to neighbours for help. Neighbours had been alerted to the incident by the noise and were standing in the street.

"He shouted to the neighbours to go back to bed, 'she's having a hypo'.

Neighbours shouted at him to let her go and she managed to get out and run to the neighbours and he remained in the street.

Officers responded at 4.35am, by which time she got back into the house and he had driven off in his car.

He drove to an address in Droitwich and was arrested there that lunchtime.

The victim sustained bruising across her head and body and described biting a hole in her tongue.

She was 'blue lighted' by ambulance to hospital on a spinal board, because paramedics were concerned about her neck and a possible brain injury.

Mrs Baskeyfield said: "I was terrified I had broken my neck and was crying and shaking in fear at what he had done to me."

The victim was left in constant pain requiring medication and her face was so swollen when she went out people stared "as if I had done something wrong".

She said: "I went to stay with my daughter as I was terrified he might come back.

"Physically, I could not do anything for myself. "I was in that much pain and mobility was restricted and could not shower or dress by myself."

Mrs Baskeyfield suffered nightmares, received medication for post-traumatic stress disorder and may seek counselling.

Baskeyfield, of Field Way Court, Price Street, Birkenhead, admitted assault causing actual bodily harm.

He had been found guilty by magistrates of breaching his bail conditions by walking past her home and staring up at the property.

Ian Whitehurst, defending, said the "terrifying" attack was caused by his client's escalating drug use and mental health issues.

He said he was now on medication for depression, getting support for his problems and trying "to rebuild his life", having found a new home.

Judge Denis Watson, QC, told Baskeyfield: "Your behaviour in setting off the smoke alarm was bizarre and then your behaviour in attacking her was unforgivable."

However, the judge said he did not have any previous convictions for violence and was getting the help he needed.

Judge Watson sentenced him to 18 months imprisonment suspended for 18 months.

He also imposed a six month curfew from 9pm to 6am; attendance on a six month drug rehabilitation programme and ordered him to take part in a probation relationships course and 15-day rehabilitation activities.

The judge additionally imposed an indefinite restraining order and warned Baskeyfield he would be jailed if he breached any of the orders.

He told him: "Leave your ex-wife entirely alone.

"You have no reason to contact her at all."