A Milford man has been handed a high-level community order after admitting charges of assault.

Thirty-nine-year-old, Daniel Joseph Davies of Dewsland Street appeared at Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on Wednesday having already pleaded guilty to two counts of assault by beating, and a separate charge of criminal damage.

A further charge of stalking was withdrawn by the prosecution.

Prosecutor Vaughan Pritchard-Jones told the court that the defendant and the complainant had been in a ten-year relationship, but two years ago, the relationship broke down.

However, they got back to together ‘on and off’ until February this year when they split again.

At 6.15 am, on May 7, the complainant went to the Mount Pleasant property where the couple formerly lived together to collect some belongings.

The defendant heard the complainant in the house and stood in her way in the kitchen, before he grabbed hold of her from behind and pushed her onto the sofa.

The court heard how Mr. Davies then slapped her before she managed to push him off and tried to exit the property.

However, the defendant prevented the complainant from doing so before breaking the landline telephone in order to stop the police from being called.

After leaving the property the complainant went to her mother’s house and phoned the police.

In her victim statement, she said that her ‘eye and jaw’ were sore, adding that she was ‘scared of Daniel’.

Magistrates were then shown photographs of the injuries that the complainant sustained during the incident.

Defence solicitor Jonathan Webb said his client was still in a relationship with the complainant until the end of April.

However, he added that the complainant was in separate relationship with another man at the same time.

Probation officer Mark Brosnan said the defendant admitted that he had slapped the complainant and that he was apologetic to her.

Mr. Davies had told him that he had been tired and had worked over time, but believed he had reacted recklessly not aggressively.

Magistrates handed Mr. Davies a 24-month community order, where he was ordered to do 200 hours of unpaid work.

He also was given a ten-day rehabilitation activity requirement.

A restraining order was made for the defendant to last for three years.

Mr. Davies was also ordered to pay £700 in compensation to the complainant, along with prosecution costs of £85 and an £85 victim surcharge.