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A Streatham man wept in court this week as he appeared on charges of punching his girlfriend's mother in the face in Roehampton.

Nathan Swain, 30, of Leigham Court Road, admitted assaulting 63-year-old Janet Griffin on April 19.

South Western Magistrates' Court heard Mr Swain's partner of three years, Michelle Griffin, had called her mum to help get Mr Swain out of her home in Sherfield Gardens.

When she arrived Mr Swain, who had been drinking that day, swore at her, punched her, and pushed her, the court heard.

Mr Swain also pleaded guilty to breaching a non-molestation order which banned him from going to his girlfriend's home or harassing or intimidating her.

Mr Swain put his head in his hands and wiped tears from his eyes with his sleeve as he sat in court.

His solicitor told judges he said he had a "serious and significant problem with alcohol" which had endured for 15 years.

His parents were alcoholics and his dad had been violent when drunk, the court heard. He had left school at the age of 12 to be a full time carer to his younger siblings and then began drinking himself as a teen.

"He lost his childhood to alcohol and he has now lost the last 15 years to alcohol," the solicitor said. "The only person in his life he felt really cared for him was his grandmother. She died on April 19, 2007."

The day Mr Swain attacked his girlfriend's mum was exactly a year after his grandmother died.

The magistrate at South Western said his sentencing powers were insufficient for the offence and sent him to Kingston Crown Court to be sentenced.

2:47pm Saturday 17th May 2008

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