A WOMAN was slapped in the face in a row over messages she had sent to other men, a court has heard.

Graham Oliver admitted assaulting a woman by beating when he appeared before magistrates in Hereford.

He and the victim had been in a relationship when she contacted the emergency services to say she had been assaulted just after 11pm on December 17 in a row over messages she had sent to other men, prosecutor Melanie Winterflood said.

The victim was shown on the Herefordshire home's CCTV system going into the dining room, with Oliver following her and a scuffle breaking out, which resulted in both falling to the floor and the victim's wrist being bent back, after he grabbed her phone from her.

He was further shown slapping her across the face, before the row calmed down.

In interview, Oliver told police he had not meant to bend her wrist backwards and that he had lashed out in the heat of the moment, slapping her and causing her to fall to the floor.

Marilena Di Vitantonio, for Oliver, said the 37-year-old had fully admitted what he had done and that the victim had since retracted her statement saying she did not support a prosecution.

"He is heartbroken," she said.

"They are not back together due to the trust issues. They have feelings for each other, but it is not meant to be."

The court heard Oliver has previous convictions including for battery in 2010 and burglary in 2017, for which he was jailed for three years, and that he is currently seeing a therapist.

Oliver, of Burford Road, Black Bourton, was handed a 12-month conditional discharge and must pay costs of £135 and a £22 victim surcharge.