A HEREFORD man punched his girlfriend in the face after drinking, a court has heard.

Josh Newbury appeared before magistrates in Hereford for sentencing after previously admitting an assault causing actual bodily harm, one count of criminal damage, and one count of being drunk and disorderly. He also admitted a further charge of being drunk and disorderly in McDonald's on January 4.

Newbury had been in a relationship with his now ex-girlfriend for around three months and had been getting on well when the pair had met up in Hereford on November 17, prosecutor Mark Hambling told the court.

They had met up with a group of friends but, as the day went on, Newbury's ex-girlfriend reported his behaviour had changed.

He had been drinking and she began to walk away when started to become abusive, she said.

But, she told police, when Newbury had raised a clenched fist to her head, she reacted and punched him, and Newbury punched her in the face, causing her nose to bleed.

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Chris Read, for Newbury, said the 29-year-old had spent the day with his ex and had met up with various other people before heading back to her home in Whitecross at around 10.30pm that evening.

"She says he came towards her looking angry and was raising a fist when she reacted and punched him in the face" Mr Read said.

"So the first blow was struck by her. She says that almost immediately after, he punched her in the face. She feels that she did not hit him very hard and he hit her back harder, and that's the basis on which he has entered a guilty plea.

"In recent times, his appearances before the court are all very clearly drink related. His offending is all very much low-level and this is the most significant matter he has appeared before the court for.

"He is homeless and has a drink problem, and is struggling to get benefits. He gets involved in short-term relationships because he needs a roof over his head, and then they break down and he finds himself the subject of police enquiries. It is very clear that something needs to be done to intervene and break the cycle."

The court heard Newbury is now taking action to tackle his drinking and is occasionally staying with his father, meaning he is now able to use an address to start a benefits claim.

Newbury, who is of no fixed address, was handed an 18-month community order and fined £100. He must also pay costs of £100 and a £95 victim surcharge.