An allegedly violent partner got his girlfriend to visit him on one occasion by taking her two cats from her flat, a court heard.

“Controlling and manipulative” Martin Bellew, aged 48, a chef, of Cwrt Fynach, Rhos on Sea, knew she was devoted to them, magistrates at Llandudno were told.

Solicitor Gareth Preston, for North Wales police, outlined the background when Bellew admitted breaching a domestic violence protection order by being at her flat on Thursday night. He was fined £50.

Mr Preston said when two PCs went to the flat at Colwyn Bay on Thursday night they opened a bedroom wardrobe and discovered Bellew hiding inside. Among his partner’s claims were that Bellew had thrown knives at her, he’d hit her, banged her head on a wall and he had brandished a meat cleaver.

On April 6 she alleged she woke up and the two cats were missing from her flat. Bellew had a key.

Mr Preston said upset Sharna Nolasco walked to his home and could hear the cats. But she had been hit, the solicitor alleged.

Lawyer Graham Parry, for Bellew, said the relationship had been “problematic” but Bellew blamed Miss Nolasco and maintained she wasn’t truthful. He’d been cleared of assaulting her previously.

There was a “complicated” background. He’d breached the DVPO after receiving a phone call during which she had invited him to visit her. When police turned up at the property, the partner lied that Bellew wasn’t there, Mr Parry said.

“Given there’s no suggestion of any violence and she was happy for him to be there and had invited him in, I ask for a financial penalty,” Mr Parry added.

Court chairman Paul Kinsey told Bellew : "You have got an order from the court for 28 days to stay away from this lady – stay away.”