A WOMAN pretended to be dead so her ex-boyfriend would stop forcing her head underwater in a hot tub, a court heard.

Samuel Bashford carried out the terrifying attack while the pair were on a weekend away.

Southampton Crown Court heard how the 28-year-old of Telford Gardens, Hedge End, had been arguing with his then-partner regarding messages he’d allegedly sent to another woman.

When they arrived at their accomodation in Rookley on the Isle of Wight, she got into the hot tub before he got in and he pushed her head under.

Prosecuting, Tim Moores said she began to panic and had “played dead” so that she’d be allowed to raise her head again.

But after she came up for air, he pushed her under again and she struggled to get above water.

READ MORE: New Forest drunk mum drove wrong way up Bournemouth slip road

During the incident, Bashford’s foot also connected with the woman’s face causing bruising, but he later denied that this was intentional.

The incident was reported to police but when interviewed, Bashford denied ever assaulting her but later accepted that they had argued.

It came after an earlier incident where he had thrown his phone at her during an argument, leaving her with a cut and a black eye.

Mr Moores told the court the couple had first met online and had moved in together at his family address.

He added that “she felt he wasn’t paying her enough attention” and that he was spending a lot of time online gaming and “flirting” with girls on social media.

But mitigating, Andrew Stone said his client had “snapped” and “lost his temper”.

He said that Bashford had been diagnosed with ADHD in September 2019 and had struggled to find medication that could work.

READ MORE: Thug beat sex worker with pole at notorious Empress Road, Southampton

He added: “They were arguing quite a lot. She herself told the police that she knew she would provoke him. She knew what buttons to press.

“I’m not saying she brought this upon herself. This is entirely Mr Bashford’s fault.”

Bashford pleaded guilty to two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm relating to the incidents in July 2021 and January 2022.

Appearing on Monday at Southampton Crown Court he was given a 12-month sentence suspended for two years.

He must also complete 120 hours of unpaid work and up to 30 sessions on an accredited course.

Judge Brian Forster KC said: “You turned upon a person who at one time certainly was committed to you and you were committed to that person.

“[You] behaved in a totally unacceptable way. How bad it must have been from her point of view.

“Steps must be taken to prevent this type of behaviour happening in future.”