AN XBOX-playing thug bit his girlfriend after telling the woman he would fight her for control of the TV, a court heard.

Reece Chambers had been playing the Microsoft game console for four days when he scrapped with his partner of 12-months.

Swindon Magistrates’ Court heard 20-year-old Chambers was staying at her Newton Way home over Christmas. When the woman eventually asked him to leave on December 27 he said he planned to take her television with him.

Prosecuting, Kate Prince said: “He indicated they were going to have to fight over it.”

The couple’s four-month-old daughter was in the room with them when Chambers pushed his partner with both hands. The woman fell backwards, smashing a glass on the floor. He pushed her again and, when she started to cry, began to mock her and asked why she was crying.

He picked up the TV and walked out the room. His partner grabbed the wire and, in a scuffle over the, he bit her hand.

Chambers said he would kill himself, went into the kitchen and began taking his partner’s pills. The woman called her mum who in turn called police.

The young mum told detectives that on December 21 Chambers had lashed out in similar circumstances.

It was 5.30pm and Chambers had been shouting at his partner for most of the day. At one point he went out and, while the woman didn’t want him to return, she let him back in as he had her phone and bank cards.

The couple argued. He grabbed her upper arms and swung her round before pushing her against the wall. He put her phone on the floor and stamped on it. The violence ended almost as soon as it had begun and Chambers offered to buy his girlfriend another phone.

The day before, December 20, he had damaged his partner’s television.

The court heard Chambers was caught by police in his partner’s house last week after a tip-off from social services. He told detectives he was fully aware of a bail condition banning him from going to the house, but claimed the proscription was “not fair”. His partner no longer supported the prosecution.

Chambers, of Ramsbury Avenue, Penhill, pleaded guilty to two counts of battery and two counts of criminal damage.

Richard Williams, defending, noted his client and his partner were a young couple with a very young baby: “Both of them, certainly Mr Chambers, struggled with the lack of sleep and everything that goes with being a young father.”

The solicitor added: “For what it is worth he is aware of the seriousness of the allegations.”

Chambers had no previous convictions.

Magistrates adjourned the case until January 30 for sentence. They ordered a pre-sentence report. Chambers was granted unconditional bail, although chairman of the bench Simon Wolfensohn urged Chambers to go to his mother’s house if things were “getting a bit tense” with his girlfriend.

For help getting out of an abusive relationship call the Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service helpline on 01793 610610.