FORMER Bolton snooker ace Tony Knowles has been found guilty of a "prolonged assault" on an ex-partner after a dispute over a laptop.

Anthony "Tony" Knowles, who was a three-times world professional snooker championship semi-finalist in the 1980s, has been found guilty of assault by beating after a trial at Kendal Magistrates Court.

The court heard that the 59-year-old, who is from Bolton and now owns Churchills Wine Bar in Bowness, Cumbria, was putting up ex-partner Nazma Craig in the flat above the bar on October 9.

Ms Craig told the court she was owed £30,000 by Knowles — cash he had invested in The White House Hotel next to the bar.

The court was told the pair had been in an on-and-off relationship since 2011.

They had separated in the summer of last year while Knowles was undergoing treatment for throat cancer but Ms Craig was in the flat as she had "nowhere else to go".

Peter Kelly, prosecuting, said on October 9 Knowles and Ms Craig had been watching TV on her laptop as the aerial in the flat was not working.

She left to go to a friend’s house and, on her return just after 10pm, asked Knowles for the laptop.

Giving evidence from behind a screen, she said: "When I decided to take it, he lost it.”

She said he grabbed the laptop and threw it down before punching her arm and "towering over her" shouting abusive language.

A weeping Ms Craig said he followed her to his bedroom and grabbed her round the throat, causing her to bang her arm on a cabinet. The court heard that Knowles threatened to call police and, following a "struggle" over the fax machine and phone, neither were aware a call had been made.

Magistrates listened to the call, in which screams and the sound of a man’s voice could be heard. When police arrived, Ms Craig was found shaken and with a bruise and scratches on her arm.

Knowles denied allegations of assault and claimed that Ms Craig "must have been mistaken".

He said the only struggle they had was over the fax machine.

He also admitted words were spoken after Ms Craig took possession of the laptop. In mitigation, defence lawyer Anthony Shimmin said the defendant was a man of previous good character.

Knowles also pleaded guilty to one count of resisting a constable in the execution of his duty.

He will be sentenced on January 28.