A MAN hit his partner with a slender branch torn from a tree when she stepped into a dispute between him and a third party.
Arturas Rackauskas (46), of Chestnut Avenue, Spalding, had earlier threatened the third party – who cannot be named for legal reasons – with the branch.
Marie Stace, prosecuting at Spalding Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, said his partner, Raimonda Balschunene, told him if he wanted to hit somebody he could hit her instead.
Miss Stace said: “She said he didn’t hesitate and hit her with the branch on her lower back.”
He then punched the back of her neck and punched her in the face between seven and ten times.
Miss Stace said Ms Balschunene took a week off work to recover.
The attack happened between August 24 and 27 last year.
The court heard Rackauskas went on to assault the third party, again using a branch from a tree, the following month.
Rackauskas was sentenced to a 12-month community order with supervision. He admitted both assaults.
He was also ordered to pay £100 costs.
Solicitor Oliver Renton, mitigating, said: “This is truly unacceptable behaviour in 21st century Britain.”
He said Rackauskas is remorseful and he and Ms Balschunene are still partners.