A NORTH Sea diver who broke up with his long-standing partner during a holiday in Ibiza must pay £1,000 to her daughter.

David Ward, prosecuting, said Paul Robert Precious, 37, grabbed the 23-year-old daughter by the hair, banged her head on furniture in his partner's home, hit her in the head and vandalised a door and other items. She suffered bruises and swelling.

Her mother was still in Ibiza where Precious had left her after they argued during a holiday.

Precious, of Rockingham Avenue, Tang Hall, pleaded guilty to assaulting the daughter and criminal damage.

He has several previous convictions for violence, but had been out of trouble for a decade apart from an assault committed in Scotland three years ago.

The Honorary Recorder of York, Judge Paul Batty QC, said the daughter had been extremely frightened by the whole incident.

He gave Precious a four-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months on condition Precious does ten days's rehabilitative activities to teach him how to control his temper and ordered him to pay the daughter £1,000 compensation.

Precious was also banned from contacting the daughter in any way under a three-year restraining order.

Representing himself, the defendant told York Crown Court he couldn't afford a barrister because he had to pay for a diving course so he could work on oil rigs, and for a new house.

He said that although he had been in trouble in the past, he was now leading a law-abiding life.

The judge said he accepted that Precious was now a hard-working man intent on bettering himself.

Mr Ward said Precious wanted to get into his partner's house at 8.40am on July 6. The daughter didn't want to let him in, but Precious' mother encouraged her to do so. Inside, Precious attacked her.