Paul Outhwaite appeared before Harrogate magistrates on Friday to plead guilty to assaulting Leanne Powell at her mother's home in Harewood Road, on the Jennyfield estate.

At an earlier hearing 36-year-old Outhwaite had denied responsibility but his solicitor Geoffrey Rogers said he now wanted to change his plea.

Prosecutor Sandra Potter said Ms Powell had told police that about two years ago she was in a relationship with Outhwaite and they had a daughter together.

The child lived with Ms Powell's mother and at 4.45pm on April 6 she had been visiting her when Outhwaite arrived bringing a child's DVD.

Argument

There had been an argument and it was the Crown's case that while Ms Powell was sitting in an armchair she was struck to an eye by Outhwaite who then grabbed her around her neck and hit her lip before leaving the house.

In mitigation Geoffrey Rogers said Outhwaite, of King Edward's Drive, Harrogate, had a slightly different version of events.

He claimed Ms Powell had thrown a child's toy at him. It had missed its mark and during an argument he had slapped her across the face before grabbing her around the neck and pushing her away.

Presiding magistrate Brian Pattyson called for probation reports to be compiled and bailed Outhwaite until July 17 ordering him to have no contact with Ms Powell in the meantime.

Mr Pattyson told him: ''The fact that she threw a toy at you does not give you the right to lay your hands on her and cause her injury.''