A woman described the terrible pain she endured when her skin was scalded by a kettle of hot water thrown over her by her former partner during an argument.

Adrian Parsley, 59, picked up a recently boiled kettle and swung it towards the victim causing burns to her body, right arm and the top of her leg, Norwich Crown Court heard.

Nicola Devas, prosecuting, said Parsley and the victim had been having an argument during which the couple had thrown cold water at each other, when Parsley had then swung the hot kettle at the woman, causing the burns.

She said the victim had to spend seven days in hospital and undergo an operation at a specialist burns unit.

In an impact statement the victim described how she felt severe pain and a terrible stinging sensation when the boiling water scalded her skin.

Parsley, formerly of Feltwell, near Thetford, admitted causing actual bodily harm on December 7, last year, and was jailed for eight months.

Marcus Croskell, for Parsley, said he was unaware the water in the kettle had been hot when he threw the kettle and said that as soon as he realised about the victim's injuries he had phoned 999 and done all he could to comfort the victim.

He said it was a 'petty squabble' and he had grabbed the kettle and had thrown it at her in a reckless action.

He said Parsley had not thrown the water at the victim's face but at her body at waist height.

'When he realised what occurred he immediately went to her aid.'

He said there was no history of domestic violence and this was a one-off incident.

He added that Parsley had a number of health problems.

Jailing him, Judge Anthony Bate said it was a very serious offence and said he must have realised the water in the kettle was hot.

He told Parsley: 'It plainly was not cold or anywhere near it.'

However he accepted Parsley was full of remorse and said the victim also in her statement had shown she still had feelings of affection towards him.