Curtis James of St John's slapped girlfriend leaving black eye

Curtis James, of Shrubbery Avenue, St John's, Worcester, was sentenced when he appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court.

Andrew Mitchinson, prosecuting, said on September 6 last year James had been in a relationship with Abigail Johnson. 

The prosecutor said, after an argument the defendant "slapped her round the face, causing her to have a black eye."

COURT: Curtis James appeared at Worcester Magistrates Court (Image: Facebook)

The prosecutor added James had no previous convictions and said the crown deemed the offence to fall in a sentencing bracket that ranged from a community order up to 16 weeks in prison. 

James admitted assault by beating at the hearing at the court on Friday (March 24). 

Sam Lamsdale, defending James, said he was previously a man of good character and was self-employed working as an engineer. 

Mrs Lamsdale said the argument had been "petty", before the slap.

She described it as a "volatile relationship" and James had said that, in hindsight, the relationship should have ended earlier. 

Mrs Lamsdale said there had been no issues between the pair since September particularly as James was now in a new relationship with a woman he had met while travelling in Thailand.

COURT: Worcester Magistrates Court

A probation service representative told the court James slapped the victim after, the defendant claimed, the victim had attacked him. 

The representative said James did accept his response had been "disproportionate" to the level of threat he was under at the time.  

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Judith Hulland, chairman of the magistrates bench, told James he was receiving a 12-month community order. 

She explained the order would include 10 rehabilitation activity requirements days. 

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The chairman explained James should work with the probation service and complete the days as, if he failed to do, that could be a breach of his order that may result in him returning to court.

James was fined £200 and ordered to pay £125 compensation, £114 victim surcharge and court costs of £160. 

James offered to pay the full amount, £599, at a rate of £100 per month - an offer which was accepted by magistrates. 

The case was heard at the court on Friday, (March 24).