A 44-year-old man punched a woman in the face and made threatening phone calls to her workplace after a domestic dispute, a court was told.

Gary Charles Fincham, of Cherry View, Boughton Monchelsea, near Maidstone, pleaded guilty to common assault and sending a menacing message by a telecom system when he appeared before magistrates in the county town.

The court heard Fincham had gone to the Staplehurst home of the woman, his long-term partner, on September 10, after a row with her earlier. The woman went outside and he punched her in the face knocking her to the ground.

On the same day he made a series of phone calls to her workplace, asking to speak with her, threatening to trash the place and saying her manager should be concerned for her own welfare.

The court heard there was a lengthy history of domestic violence between the couple and the woman had suffered at his hands for 11 years.

Defending Fincham, Peter Cockrill said: “He has expressed extreme remorse. He knows this was an awful incident and takes full responsibility for it.”

Mr Cockrill added Fincham, was now reconciled with the woman and she was supportive of him.

Giving Fincham credit for pleading guilty at the earliest opportunity, magistrates ordered him to serve a two-year community order and pay £43 costs.