THE ACTIONS of a 19-year-old who punched his ex-girlfriend in the face on her driveway after he had brandished a knife threatening to slit his own throat, were described by his own solicitor as those of "an immature young man".

Jack Hobbins admitted assaulting a woman by beating and possessing a knife in a public place, in Newport, during the early hours of May 8.

A Newton hearing, on disputed facts about the knife and attack, were heard and found to be largely proved against him, at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court, on August 26.

Hobbins, with no previous convictions, had been in a relationship with the victim for about eight months, but it was ended by her in March — describing the relationship as "toxic and dramatic".

On the morning of May 7, Hobbins, of Five Houses Lane, Calbourne, tried to re-establish contact with her — sending a text message stating he wanted to see her. She blocked his number.

Later that evening, with a friend at Wetherspoons in Newport, Hobbins challenged her over why she blocked his number, but she moved tables.

He continued to make eye contact with her until she left the pub at around 10pm, said Liz Miller, prosecuting, at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court on Monday.

An hour later, when she was at home in bed, she could hear stones hitting her window, but could not see who was throwing them.

When she went outside to investigate, Hobbins was there — about 15ft away — very drunk, the bench was told.

Hobbins told her he had attempted suicide earlier that night. He got angry and lurched forward — grabbing her by the throat tightly and pushing her up against a brick wall.

As she pushed him away, Hobbins pulled out a pocket knife and acted dragging it across his own throat, then returned it to his pocket.

He then took hold of her arm with both hands so she could not get away.

"She struggled to get free, but he punched her face and she fell to the ground," said Miss Miller.

"Hobbins grabbed her again and she kicked out at him to get him away from her — managing to flee inside her house, lock the door and contact a friend, who in turn called the police."

Magistrates were satisfied the knife had not been used to threaten the woman.

For Hobbins, Barry Arnett said: "This was more perhaps a cry for help from this immature young man. He drank too much. I think he's learnt a lesson."

Hobbins was handed a year's probation, to include 120 hours of unpaid work, and was ordered to pay £650 costs and a £95 victim surcharge.

He was also made subject to a 12-month restraining order, not to contact the victim or go to her address.

Presiding magistrate, Gillian Dale, told Hobbins: "What on earth made you do such a stupid thing? Having a knife is a very serious offence.

"We really hope that appearing before us has been a shock — a shock you will remember and that you do nothing like this again."