AN ARGUMENT led to a Newport man giving his partner a black eye, by whipping her with a wet tea towel, an Isle of Wight court was told.

Charlie Lewis, of Linden Road, Newport, admitted assaulting a woman by beating, on September 9, 2023.

He pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing, at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court.

Lewis initially punched and damaged a door, after she refused him a cigarette, then launched his attack — grabbing her shoulder and neck and pushing her onto a bed, before using a wet tea-towel to whip her face, causing a black eye, said Liz Miller, prosecuting

For Lewis, Oscar Vincent said his client had fallen out with his victim the day before.

Mr Vincent said: "The atmosphere had not improved the following day and a row started, which culminated in the tea towel incident.

"His use of the tea towel was reckless and he immediately apologised. He left the property immediately."

Lewis was fined £200 and ordered to pay £100 compensation to the victim and £58.47 to Sovereign Housing for the damage caused, with an £80 surcharge.

Magistrates also made Lewis subject to an 18-month restraining order.