A labourer punched his ex-girlfriend after he found out that she was in a relationship with his aunt's partner.

Mark Stewart had been friends with Ian Smith before he found out on July 11 that he was seeing Maria Vollero, his girlfriend of 20 years.

When he found out about the relationship and that Ms Vollero was pregnant with Mr Smith's child, magistrates heard that Stewart went into an angry rage and punched Ms Vollero in the face outside her flat in Hillfields Avenue, Hillfields, causing a deep cut above her eye.

Stewart, 42, of Blackswarth Road, St George, admitted charges of ABH.

In a statement read out to the court by Crown prosecutor Anna Rogers, Ms Vollero said: "I was scared. He (Stewart) is a very big man who can easily hurt me. He really frightens me.

"I'm certain that he will try to attack me again. I don't feel safe."

In his defence, Stewart's lawyer Giles Nelson said: "Mr Stewart is very sorry for his actions and very remorseful."

Magistrates heard that Stewart only threw one punch at Ms Vollero and it was not a pre-meditated attack.

Stewart was released on bail and the case adjourned for sentencing until August 4.